More teams are coming to grips with the reality that if you want to play games early in the season, you’ll probably have to do so out of state.
Another cold, wet stretch of weather greeted many teams when the season began last week.
Boosters clubs and their fundraisers helped pay for road trips, and teams are glad they did.
Several local baseball teams made a trip south to open their schedules, gaining valuable experience and getting a better look at new lineups before facing WPIAL teams.
“We played a team from Canada and another from Nebraska,” Penn-Trafford coach Lou Cortazzo said. “It was good to get some work in down there in Florida. We were able to go 2-0 down there.”
Penn-Trafford beat Bellevue East, Neb., 11-6, before a 5-0 win over Thunder Bay Christian (Ontario) last week. Both games were played at Space Coast High School in Viera West, Fla.
Franklin Regional opened the baseball season with three wins in four games, with two victories coming out of state.
After a 10-4 win over Fox Chapel in a rare season-opening home game that wasn’t postponed because of weather, the Panthers defeated DePaul Catholic (N.J.), 1-0, and Glenelg (Md.), 6-0, in Vero Beach, Fla.
Their lone loss on the road trip was a 7-6 setback against Neosho, Mo.
Latrobe didn’t leave Pennsylvania but managed to play two games on the east side of the state, defeating Scranton Prep, 7-2 and 11-3.
“We have one of our youngest teams, so getting in as many games as we can is important,” Latrobe coach Matt Basciano said. “Our kids need to learn and grow.”
Mt. Pleasant played three games in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Vikings beat Calvary Day School (N.C.) and lost to Atlantic Collegiate Academy (S.C.) and Putman Science Academy before returning home for section play.
Sivrich fans 14
Norwin posted a 6-1 victory against Central Catholic behind a solid outing from top pitcher Caden Sivrich.
The senior righthander and Pitt commit had one of his best varsity games. He struck out 14, did not walk a batter and allowed one earned run in the complete-game victory.
Leopards start fast
Belle Vernon’s Taylor Andrisko won his first two games as the Leopards’ new head coach.
Belle Vernon made quick work of Waynesburg in the opener, winning 16-4 in four innings.
The Leopards then hit the road and downed Uniontown, 5-1, in the Section 2-4A opener.
Andrisko replaced Tony Watson, whose position was opened last June despite a 16-8 record and a WPIAL semifinal appearance.
Kind of a cycle
Penn-Trafford’s Nico Casciato hit for the cycle in his team’s two-game Section 1-5A series against Latrobe – sort of.
Casciato went 3 for 5 in the opening game with a double, triple, home run and four RBIs as Latrobe won 13-12 in eight innings. He added a single – and a two stolen bases and a highlight-reel catch — in the second game, a 9-3 win for the Warriors.
Cole Short, Latrobe’s only returning starter, also had himself a series. He finished 6 for 10 with a double, home run and five RBIs.
Derry solid early
Derry won three of its first four games.
Fourth-year coach Tommy Kelley’s Trojans won three straight following a season-opening loss to Bellefonte at the Smoke Myers Tournament at Forest Hills.
Cason Long has been a bright spot for Derry. He had a double and was the winning pitcher in a 7-4 victory over Forest Hills and added a home run in a 4-2 win against Ligonier Valley.
Long earned a save when the Trojans edged Steel Valley, 4-3.
Long is a future Division II college player. He has committed to Shippensburg.
The Trojans were set to host Mt. Pleasant on Thursday.
Games to watch
Thursday’s schedule – all nonsection games — shows Hempfield at Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair at Norwin, Southmoreland at Greensburg Salem, Penn-Trafford at Connellsville and a matchup Jeannette fans would rather see on the basketball court: Jeannette at Sewickley Academy.
Friday’s local games include Belle Vernon at South Park, Greensburg Central Catholic at Greensburg Salem, Hempfield at Latrobe and Yough at Elizabeth Forward.
On Monday, Norwin and Hempfield will open their three-game Section 1-6A series at Hempfield.