Franklin Regional hurts itself with errors in quarterfinal loss to North Hills

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, May 22, 2018 | 8:21 PM

North Hills had heard enough of its postseason baseball woes: three one-and-dones in the past four seasons and no WPIAL playoff wins in 11 seasons.

But Tuesday was different as the Indians jumped on Franklin Regional for four runs in the first inning and rolled to a 7-1 victory in the Class 5A quarterfinals at Shaler's Matulevic Field.

Senior Joey Pusateri threw a 2-hitter, struck out seven and retired 12 consecutive batters in one stretch, and Garret Barto had three hits and made some superb plays at third base.

“Everybody's been talking about it,” Pusateri said. “We know we have that little target on our back with those first-round losses. Now we've made it to the third round, the semifinal game. We got a bye. We won today, now we're pumped for the next one.”

The No. 3-seeded Indians (18-3) face the winner of Wednesday's game between West Allegheny and Chartiers Valley in the semifinals.

If North Hills wins, they will be in the WPIAL finals for the first time since 1974, when the Indians lost to Burrell at Three Rivers Stadium.

If North Hills loses, the Indians will play the other semifinal loser in a consolation game Tuesday to determine the third WPIAL team in the PIAA playoffs.

“The kids read the papers. They know what's going on,” said North Hills coach Randy Miller about recent program history. “Everybody wants to talk about what's in the rear-view mirror. All these guys think about is what's in the windshield and what's ahead of them.”

No. 6 Franklin Regional concluded its season at 15-5.

Five of the first six Indians batters in the first inning reached base safely, and the Panthers committed two of their six errors to help propel the early North Hills surge.

Franklin Regional committed two more errors in the fourth to lead to another North Hills run, and another pair of miscues in the sixth that led to the final two Indians runs.

“We obviously wanted to be the team that got ahead early,” Panthers coach Bob Sadler said. “They took advantage of our mistakes, and I just got done saying to the guys that if anybody saw us for the first time today, we're a completely different team than that. Unfortunately, that first inning was a precursor of what happened continuously throughout the game.”

The big hit in the first inning was a double by J.T. Mazula to drive in Barto. Mazula came home on a passed ball.

Jordan Albright opened the fourth with a walk and went to third on an errant pickoff attempt. He scored on Tanner Schmitt's base hit.

Barto's third hit started the fifth inning. Pinch runner Timmy Suto and Alex Glatz scored on a throwing error.

With one out in the Franklin seventh, Barto dove on his side for a shot near the line, righted himself and threw out Bryce Harper.

“Pusateri did a great job mixing his pitches and got ahead in the count,” Sadler said. “And they were making the plays behind.”

Zach Seaman's sacrifice fly scored Shane Sciorilli with the only Panthers run.

George Guido is a freelance writer.

Tags: Franklin Regional, North Hills