HERITAGE CONFERENCE TEAMS GO 4-4 IN D6 BASEBALL, SOFTBALL PLAYOFF OPENERS

BASEBALL

In the opening round of the District 6 baseball playoffs, one Heritage Conference team went down in Class A and another moved on to the second round.

Purchase Line was only 5-13 coming into its game at 9-8 Blacklick Valley, but the Red Dragons jumped to a 4-0 lead after two, then added a run in the fourth, four in the sixth, and three more in the seventh to knock off the Vikings, 12-3.  Christian Myers had three hits, including a home run, and drove in five runs for PL.  Caden Cessna also had three hits and Wyatt Sheredy, Ryan Matko, and Micah Lotson all had two.  Myers went five-and-two-thirds innings and struck out thirteen for the win.  Aiden Boring had three hits for Blacklick Valley.  Purchase Line visits Claysburg-Kimmel in the quarterfinals on Monday.

Williamsburg scored five runs in the third, five more in the fifth, and cruised to a 13-1 win over Portage.  The Blue Pirates will travel to Juniata Valley on Monday.

Conemaugh Valley/Ferndale was moved to today, with the winner to play at Northern Cambria on Monday.  Monday’s Class A games will also include Homer-Center at Saint Joseph’s.

In Triple-A, Central Cambria and West Shamokin were tied 8-8 before the Red Devils put up five runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to come away with a 14-8 win.  Ben Howard had four hits and Rocca Barra drove in four runs for Central Cambria.  West Shamokin had only four hits, three of them by Nick Krizmanich, who tripled and drove in three runs.

Today, United visits Westmont Hilltop in a Double-A game.

SOFTBALL

In Class A softball, Sara Halerz and Adasyn Trusik each had two hits and Reese Pinizzotto gave up one unearned run to lead Portage to a 3-1 win over Northern Cambria.  Portage will visit Conemaugh Valley on Monday.

Penns Manor edged United in nine innings, 7-6. The Comets will play at Claysburg-Kimmel on Monday.

Other Class A action on Monday includes Homer-Center at Juniata Valley and Purchase Line hosting the winner of today’s game between Bishop Guilfoyle and Bishop McCort.

In Triple-A, Autumn Groer and Hallie Hayes each had two hits and Brea Kountz drove in two runs as Cambria Heights downed Tyrone 9-5.  The Highlanders are at Bedford on Monday.