Jun. 8—Jason Janesko, Michael Rickert and Trevor Balcerzak each drove in two runs to lead unbeaten Riverside to a 7-1 victory over District 4 champion Sayre in a PIAA baseball Class 2A first-round game Monday at Bowman Field in Williamsport.
Winning pitcher R.J. Santarsiero allowed one run on four hits and struck out
six in six innings for the
District 2 champion Vikings (22-0), who advance to Thursday’s quarterfinals against District 5 champion McConnellsburg at a site and time to be determined.
McConnellsburg won its first-round game, 9-3, over Newport.
“Everyone just bought into the same philosophy of getting quality at-bats,” Riverside coach Sean Hughes said. “And R.J. really battled today and shut them down.”
Sayre (21-2), which coming in had outscored its opponents this season, 280-63, jumped on top in the bottom of the second. But Riverside responded in the top of the third with RBI singles by Rickert and Balcerzak.
Then in the fifth, the Vikings extended their lead to 4-1 on an RBI single by Balcerzak and a bases-loaded walk by Thomas Day.
A turning point came in the bottom of the fifth. Sayre appeared to score a run on a sacrifice fly. However, Riverside appealed and the runner was called out for leaving third base too soon. That ended a potential big inning for the Redskins and kept it a 4-1 game.
“That was a big momentum play and kind of put them down in the dumps a little bit there,” Hughes said.
Janesko helped cap the victory in the top of the sixth with a two-run single. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Rickert.
Riverside 7, Sayre 1
Riverside 002 023 0 — 7
Sayre 010 000 0 — 1
WP: R.J. Santarsiero 6IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 4BB, 6SO
LP: David Northup 4.1IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 6SO
2B: R.J. Santarsiero (RIV), Brayden Horton (SAY), Lucas Horton (SAY), Jason Janesko (RIV).
Class 3A
Andrew Durkin had two hits, including a home run, scored two runs and drove in three to lead Scranton Prep to an 11-3 win over District 11 champion Palisades in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A playoffs at Saucon Valley High School.
Vito Gianello added a single, double and two RBIs and Rocco Valvano also had two hits for the Cavaliers (7-12), who collected 11 in the game.
“We just came out and hit the ball,” Scranton Prep coach Mark Seitzinger said. “Our guys 1 through 9 in the lineup were just hitting line drives. We swung the bat really well today.”
Ethan Muha’s two-run double gave Scranton Prep a 2-0 lead just four batters into the game. Muha finished with three RBIs.
Palisades got one of the runs back in the bottom of the first.
It stayed a 2-1 game until Scranton Prep broke it open with three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and four in the sixth.
That was more than enough offense for winning pitcher Brian Walsh, who threw a complete-game seven-hitter with two walks and seven strikeouts on 92 pitches.
“Brian threw the ball really great today,” Seitzinger said. “He kept control of the game with his fastball, curveball and changeup. He kept the ball down, kept his pitch count down and we made plays behind him. He kept us in the game with his arm.”
After starting the season 0-7 and 1-10, Scranton Prep has won six of its last eight and is in the state quarterfinals Thursday. The Cavaliers will face District 3 champion Oley Valley, which won its first-round game, 9-3, over String Theory.
“Who would have thought we’d be where we are right now,” Seitzinger said. “We’re playing with house money. I keep telling the guys to stay loose and have fun. They’re having a good time, but playing good baseball.”
Scranton Prep 11, Palisades 3
Scranton Prep 200 324 0 — 11
Palisades 100 020 0 — 3
WP: Brian Walsh 7IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 7SO
LP: Jaden Newton 4.2IP, 8H, 7R, 7ER, 3BB, 3SO
2B: Ethan Muha (SP), Vito Gianello (SP), Noah Sorensen (SP), Brian Walsh (SP). 3B: Rocco Valvano (SP). HR: Andrew Durkin (SP).