Butler, Pa- Winning big has become a bit of a habit for the Greater Allegheny baseball team, and they continued that trend with a 13-3 victory in game 1 over UC-Clermont (OH). Late-inning heroics have also become familiar, as GA escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 7th inning- after overcoming a 6-4 deficit in the 6th - to hold on for 7-6 win in game 2.
Game 1 began as mostly a pitchers duel, with GA scratching out a 2-0 lead after four. After giving up a run in the top of the fifth, Greater Allegheny turned on the bats, plating 5 runs in the inning. Senior second baseman Teddy Fricke (Carrick, PA) led-off the inning with a single, and then came around to score on a double by junior third baseman, Jason Paris (Chartiers Houston, PA).
Junior catcher Josh Kubisz (Goose Creek, SC) reached on a walk, then he and Paris both scored on a triple by freshman outfielder Oliver Girman (Serra Catholic, PA). Freshman outfielder Zach Zeroski (West Allegheny, PA) singled home Girman, advanced to second on a passed ball, and then scored on a single by sophomore designated hitter Sam Weightman (Penn Trafford, PA).
GA followed suit in the fifth inning, scoring six more runs. The six runs came off just two hits, but were aided by six walks. Junior outfielder Mike Visloski (West Allegheny, PA) eventually ended the game via the 10-run mercy rule, as his RBI single put GA up 13-3.
Senior pitcher Jonathan Lutz (West Mifflin, PA) started the game for Greater Allegheny and pitched 2 no-hit innings, striking out 2. Freshman Aaron McGee (Penn Trafford, PA) pitched the next 2, giving up 1 run on 2 hits. McGee (3-2) picked up the win, and struck out 2 hitters. Sophomore first baseman Adam Wehr (Northwestern Lehigh, PA) had a peculiar day at the plate, earning 3 RBI's despite not having an official at-bat. Oliver Girman (2-3), Zach Zeroski (1-3), and Sam Weigthman (1-2) each had 2 RBI's.
Greater Allegheny got out to an early 4-2 in game 2, as freshman catcher Clay Groff (Allderdice, PA) tripled home two runners, and then scored on the same play, via a throw from the outfield that got away from the Clermont third baseman. UC-Clermont fought back through the top of the sixth, scoring three runs to take a 6-4 lead.
Adam Wehr led-off the GA comeback with a single to right field. Wehr would advance to second on a wild pitch, and then scored on a Teddy Fricke single to center. Following a strikeout, sophomore second baseman Kevin Quinn (West Mifflin, PA) fought off an 0-2 count, dropping a single into right field. Clay Groff came up big again, drilling a 2-RBI double to right-center, which put Greater Allegheny up 7-6.
Two straight singles off pitcher Teddy Fricke began the UC-Clermont rally, with a wild pitch advancing both runners into scoring position. Fricke used a key strikeout to get the first out, but then hit a batter to load the bases. A rare, "1-unassisted" at home plate followed, netting Fricke the second out. UC-Clermont appeared to be in a position to tie- and potentially take the lead - when a sharply hit ground ball seemed to be on its way into center field. However, shortstop Aaron McGee was able to knock the ball down with a desperation dive, and then quickly flipped it to Kevin Quinn for the game's final out- completing Fricke's houdini act on the mound.
Teddy Fricke (3-1) picked up the win, coming on to pitch 2 innings of relief. He struck 2, walked 2, and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits. Clay Groff led the GA offense with 5 RBI's, going 2-3 at the plater.
With the double-header sweep, Greater Allegheny has now won a school record, 12 straight games. They now hold a 19-9 record overall, and return to the diamond Monday, April 9 for a double-header against PSUAC foe, Penn State Brandywine. First pitch will be 11 AM.
