Top-seeded Greensburg Salem reflects on ‘roller coaster’ quarterfinal

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 | 2:00 PM

Greensburg Salem’s baseball season came to a screeching halt Tuesday after a weird, wild and well-played quarterfinal game that took two days and two fields to complete. Like the first day, the second ended in darkness for the Golden Lions.

Blackhawk scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 11th inning and held off top-seeded Greensburg Salem in the home half of the inning for a 1-0 victory in the Class 4A playoffs.

“It stings to think about the opportunities we had to win in which we didn’t clutch up,” Golden Lions senior shortstop Jack Oberdorf said. “The two days were odd. That was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.”

The game started Monday at Fox Chapel but was suspended because of darkness as the teams worked up a scoreless tie that lasted into the 10th.

The Red Hurricanes and Golden Lions returned less than 24 hours later to finish — at North Allegheny.

It was an hour-plus bus ride to finish the tail-end of a game that was over in 27 minutes.

“Roller coaster from pitch-to-pitch,” Greensburg Salem coach Bill Wisniewski said. “Neither team flinched. Two days is tough. I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone.”

New Castle small-balled its way to victory, taking advantage of a lead-off walk, bunting a runner over then capitalizing on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Vince Soukovich raced home with the go-ahead run.

“This is the craziest game of my life,” Soukovich said.

In a bang, flash, whirlwind couple of days, blurred by the extraordinary circumstances and bitter result that denied them a second straight semifinal trip, the Golden Lions (14-3) are displaying resilience.

“It was equal for both teams,” Wisniewski said. “Tough for one team to lose but that’s sports. We were on the other end of it last year. I am disappointed for our kids; they put a lot into this year. We had a great year and loved the memories we made. Adversity builds character, and our staff is proud of the young men we are turning out.”

Oberdorf will play his college baseball locally, at Seton Hill. He won’t let a tough ending lessen his prep career.

“Great group of guys. Great coaches. I going to miss it a lot,” he said. “That doesn’t define our (team) or the season we had. It was a great year, and I’m truly going to miss wearing brown and gold.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Greensburg Salem