McCoy’s walk-off hit leads South Side baseball past Burrell

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, May 21, 2018 | 9:12 PM

When Luke Virag lifted a ball over the right-field fence with two runners on in the top of the third of Monday's WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal against South Side, Burrell jumped out to a three-run lead and had the momentum going its way.

But the No. 3 Rams didn't fold their tents; they scored twice in the bottom of the third and added one more in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.

Then Bishop McCoy delivered.

The South Side first baseman connected on a pitch from Bucs reliever Tanner Spohn and deposited it down the line in right field. Jake McDougal, who had walked with one out, came all the way around from first to score the game-winner for the Rams in the 4-3 final.

“That says a lot about the character of this team, especially the returning guys, because last year, we were in the same situation and lost a heartbreaker in extra innings,” South Side coach Chip Hunter said.

“It just shows the growth of this team. To be down 3-0 against a very good Burrell team, it shows their perseverance. They kept battling, and I am very proud of them.”

Hunter referenced the Rams' 2-1, 10-inning loss to Brownsville in the 2017 quarterfinals. But South Side (13-4) is off to the semifinals this year, and it's in the WPIAL final four for the first time since 2000.

That year, the Rams were one win away from the WPIAL championship game in Class A but fell to eventual WPIAL champion Western Beaver.

The No. 6 Bucs, who won the Section 1 co-championship with Valley and produced a 12-5 first-round victory over Mt. Pleasant, finished 10-4.

“They're a good team, and we're a good team,” Burrell coach Mark Spohn said. “It just came down to them getting a big hit when they needed it.”

Ethan Woodling led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, but he was erased on a rundown between first and second.

McDougal's walk came one batter before Spohn struck out cleanup hitter Casey Jones. That set up McCoy's dramatic hit.

“We talk a lot about discipline (at the plate) all the time as a team, and that has helped us get this far,” said McCoy, who will wrestle in college at Pitt-Johnstown.

Burrell was limited to three hits over six innings by Jones, who walked three and struck out nine. Nick Hwostow and Zach Miller each drew walks in the third before Virag's homer.

Luke Woodard came on in the seventh for the Rams and surrendered a one-out walk to Tyler Mock. But Woodard was able to retire Hwostow and Miller to end the frame.

“We were in position, but just couldn't get that extra hit to add on after the home run,” coach Spohn said. “Give their pitchers credit. We didn't hit the ball extremely well, but the kids battled.”

Virag also started on the mound for the Bucs and gave up eight hits and four walks over six innings.

A single from South Side third baseman Marshall Windsor to lead off the fourth was erased on a double play one batter later. Woodard then walked, but Virag picked him off first base.

South Side hoped to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth, but it left runners on second and third. The Rams also stranded two runners in the bottom of the fifth.

McDougal finished the game with a run-scoring single, and he drove in another on a fielder's choice, while Jones added an RBI single and three hits overall.

Corey Christie and Drew Cambal each recorded singles for the Bucs.

“We're a pretty hard-nosed team and went at them pretty good, but it just wasn't enough today,” coach Spohn said.

“I told them I appreciated their effort all year. They worked really hard from the start. We have a large amount of kids coming back. We'll be back next year.”

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Burrell, South Side