Jake Fritz struck out 10 in a complete game and went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI to lead No. 3 North Allegheny to a 4-3 victory over No. 2 Canon-McMillan in the WPIAL Class 6A baseball semifinals Wednesday.
Ben Kern tripled and drove in a run for the Tigers (14-7), who will face No. 1 Butler in the championship game. Alex Eslep hit a two-run single as a rally came up one run short for the Big Macs (16-6) in the bottom of the seventh.
Eden Christian 7, Western Beaver 0 – Noah Emswiler threw a complete-game two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and helped his own cause with a double and an RBI to lead top-seeded Eden Christian (15-4) in the Class A semifinals. Brady Hull singled, doubled and tripled, Levi Parrott had a double and two RBIs and Kyle Fowler singled and drove in a run for the Warriors, who will face No. 2 Greensburg Central Catholic in the finals. Vinny Ross had both hits for No. 4 Western Beaver (12-4).
Neshannock 1, South Side 0 – Denny Joseph threw 6⅔ scoreless innings, allowing six hits and striking out eight, to lead No. 2 Neshannock (18-3) in the Class 2A semifinals. Nathan Rickel and Ryan Cameron hit back-to-back two-out triples in the bottom of the sixth to account for the game’s only run. Hard-luck losing pitcher Ryan Shaw allowed one run on four hits in six innings for No. 3 South Side (15-4). The Lancers will meet No. 1 Fort Cherry in the championship game.
Softball
South Park 2, Ellwood City 0 – Sydney Sekely threw a complete-game one-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts to send top-seeded South Park (19-1) to a win in the Class 3A semifinals. Emma Hays hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to give Sekely all the run support she needed. Kaitlyn Mattas also doubled for the Eagles, who will take on No. 3 Mt. Pleasant in the finals. Kaylee Palombi had the lone hit for No. 4 Ellwood City (10-6).