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HARMONY — Heading into the WPIAL Class 2A high school baseball semifinal matchup, No. 3 South Side was eyeing a trip to its first WPIAL baseball championships game when it took on No. 2 Neshannock at the AHN Baseball Complex on Wednesday, May 20.
Despite South Side giving Neshannock everything it could handle, the team fell 1-0 after a pair of two-out triples fell into the gaps in the sixth inning.
“Ryan [Shaw] has been a dawg for us all year, goes out throws strikes, and we play great defense around him,” South Side head coach Craig Campbell said. “That is what we did today as a team, kept them [Neshannock] off balance. We just ended up being one hit short.”
Despite losing some of his command in the bottom of the fifth inning, throwing eight straight balls, Shaw battled back and got out of the inning unscathed.
That also carried into the sixth, setting down the top two players down in the Neshannock order with a groundout and a flyout.
Even with two outs, Neshannock (18-3) rallied and drove in the lone run of the game, with shortstop Nathan Rickel and third baseman Ryan Cameron hitting back-to-back triples into the right-center and left-center field gaps to take the lead.
“Ryan is a competitor, and I knew that he was going to be okay in that moment. I just went out there to give him a little breather,” Campbell said. “He is always going to battle, give it everything that he has and ended up holding one of the best teams in the state to a run today.”
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With the hopes of playing for a WPIAL championship hanging in the balance, South Side (15-4) refused to quit when it had its last chance at the plate in the top of the seventh.
Neshannock starting pitcher Dennis Joseph had South Side’s number for most of the game, setting down eight Rams hitters and not allowing a free pass through 6 ⅔ innings of work.
While South Side was down to its last out against Joseph and Neshannock, Jacob Ziegler and Jacob Lytle each deposited singles, setting up runners at the corners with center fielder Dawson Frasier up at the plate and forcing Joseph out of the game after reaching the pitch count limit.
With Cameron on to pitch for Neshannock, Fraiser bounced a ball off the pitcher’s glove, into Rickel’s, to which he threw onto first for the game’s final out.
“This team has battled all year, no matter if we are down a run or six,” Campbell said. “We were down against OLSH and Brentwood earlier in the year and both times battled back like we did today. We talk a lot about quality at-bats and scoring runs with two outs. We did that today with two on and a chance to win the game. This team doesn’t quit until the final out is made.”
Up next, South Side will now set its sights on the WPIAL 2A consolation round when it faces off against section foe Riverview, with a spot in the state playoffs on the line at Ross Memorial Park.
A date and time for the consolation matchup is to be determined.
Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him at EthanMorrison26 on X.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: South Side falls to Neshannock in WPIAL 2A baseball semifinals
Continue reading...
Despite South Side giving Neshannock everything it could handle, the team fell 1-0 after a pair of two-out triples fell into the gaps in the sixth inning.
“Ryan [Shaw] has been a dawg for us all year, goes out throws strikes, and we play great defense around him,” South Side head coach Craig Campbell said. “That is what we did today as a team, kept them [Neshannock] off balance. We just ended up being one hit short.”
Despite losing some of his command in the bottom of the fifth inning, throwing eight straight balls, Shaw battled back and got out of the inning unscathed.
That also carried into the sixth, setting down the top two players down in the Neshannock order with a groundout and a flyout.
Even with two outs, Neshannock (18-3) rallied and drove in the lone run of the game, with shortstop Nathan Rickel and third baseman Ryan Cameron hitting back-to-back triples into the right-center and left-center field gaps to take the lead.
“Ryan is a competitor, and I knew that he was going to be okay in that moment. I just went out there to give him a little breather,” Campbell said. “He is always going to battle, give it everything that he has and ended up holding one of the best teams in the state to a run today.”
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Live Postseason Updates: WPIAL high school baseball playoffs, Beaver Valley live score updates
Required Reading: Matt Santillo's masterpiece sends Riverside to WPIAL 3A baseball semifinals
Live Postseason Updates: WPIAL high school softball playoffs, Beaver Valley live score updates
With the hopes of playing for a WPIAL championship hanging in the balance, South Side (15-4) refused to quit when it had its last chance at the plate in the top of the seventh.
Neshannock starting pitcher Dennis Joseph had South Side’s number for most of the game, setting down eight Rams hitters and not allowing a free pass through 6 ⅔ innings of work.
While South Side was down to its last out against Joseph and Neshannock, Jacob Ziegler and Jacob Lytle each deposited singles, setting up runners at the corners with center fielder Dawson Frasier up at the plate and forcing Joseph out of the game after reaching the pitch count limit.
You must be registered for see images attach
With Cameron on to pitch for Neshannock, Fraiser bounced a ball off the pitcher’s glove, into Rickel’s, to which he threw onto first for the game’s final out.
“This team has battled all year, no matter if we are down a run or six,” Campbell said. “We were down against OLSH and Brentwood earlier in the year and both times battled back like we did today. We talk a lot about quality at-bats and scoring runs with two outs. We did that today with two on and a chance to win the game. This team doesn’t quit until the final out is made.”
Up next, South Side will now set its sights on the WPIAL 2A consolation round when it faces off against section foe Riverview, with a spot in the state playoffs on the line at Ross Memorial Park.
A date and time for the consolation matchup is to be determined.
Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him at EthanMorrison26 on X.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: South Side falls to Neshannock in WPIAL 2A baseball semifinals
Continue reading...
