Moon lands big win over Upper St. Clair to boost playoff hopes

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 | 10:53 PM

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Falling into last place with one week left in the regular season is not a good recipe for a postseason run.

However, on Wednesday night, it was one small step for Moon’s chances of playing meaningful baseball next week and one giant leap for the Tigers’ playoff hopes.

The Tigers came into their Section 2-5A matchup against Upper St. Clair having lost four games in a row with fading playoff hopes, but left with an extra hop in their step after defeating USC, 6-1.

The game was played at EQT Field in Washington, the home of the Wild Things, because the power was still out near Boyce-Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair a day after a massive storm damaged neighborhoods through Western Pennsylvania.

“We talked about it before we got here that we’re just going to come out here and have some fun,” Moon coach Rich Rowe said. “We’re talking about young men facing a lot of adversity, trying to get them to turn that stuff off and focus on a baseball game.”

The Tigers answered the call with a near flawless game.

They struck first in the second inning when Taylor Ebner led off with a walk against USC starter Nolan Wilson, then one out later, Owen Amey singled and both scored on a two-run double by Nick Machusko.

“He’s only a sophomore,” Rowe said of Machusko. “We have quite a few really talented sophomores who we are looking forward to the future with. When they figure out picking out your pitch and understanding the men on base situation when you step in the box, they’re going to really take off.”

The Panthers cut the lead to one in the third inning when Josh Burlingame singled home Finn Baird, who had led off the inning with a single.

However, the middle of the Moon order struck again in the fourth inning.

Taylor Ebner reached on an error by the USC third baseman, Andrew Cross walked and on a bunt attempt by Amey, Wilson tried to get the lead runner at third base but threw it away. Courtesy runner Savario Vandetti scored, but Amey was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first base.

Machusko delivered an RBI single to score Amey and increase the Tigers lead to 4-1.

Moon closed out the scoring with single runs in the fifth and seventh innings.

Taylor Ebner doubled to score Angelo Fachet who had walked and stole second base in the fifth inning, then Fachet tripled home Drew Zeiger, who had reached base on an error by the Panthers first baseman.

While Moon kept adding to its lead, junior Tyler Ebner was shutting down Upper St. Clair.

Tyler Eber, the brother of catcher Taylor Ebner, allowed only one run on six scattered hits with two walks and five strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

“I can’t say enough about Tyler,” Rowe said. “He’s been fantastic for us all year. Our entire pitching staff has done a good job. When we need to bring someone in, Tyler has been that guy, having only given up one run all year coming into this game. His teammates had a lot of faith in him that he was going to go out there and do the job.”

Moon improves to 4-6 in the section and 4-10 overall as the Tigers try to rally for a second straight year to make the playoffs.

In 2024, Moon won its final four section games to tie Mars for the fourth and final playoff spot, and the Tigers won the tiebreaker to qualify.

Moon ends the section next week with a series against Trinity, which also sits tied for fifth place at 4-6.

Meanwhile, Upper St. Clair falls to 5-5 and is deadlocked with South Fayette for third place in the section.

The Panthers conclude section play next week against Chartiers Valley.

Tags: Moon, Upper St. Clair