In high school baseball on Thursday, Homer Center defeated Penns Manor, 17-2, in four innings at First Commonwealth Bank Field. It was the first game of the season for both teams.
Canyon Rankin was the winning pitcher and had three hits for the Wildcats. Jesse Lee also had three hits for Homer-Center, scored four runs and knocked in three. Nate Davis hit a double and scored three runs for Homer-Center.
Garrett Crowe took the pitching loss for Penns Manor, as Homer-Center collected 14 hits.
Blairsville topped Saltsburg, 8-6, despite getting only four hits. Ryan Shirley pitched the first four innings and got the win, giving up four runs – but just one earned – to go with three strikeouts and three walks. Dakota Sunday pitched the last three innings, gave up two earned runs, with four strikeouts and a walk.
Blairsville scored five runs in the second inning on five walks and an error.
In WPIAL action, Norwin beat Indiana, 8-2.
