WPIAL Playoffs: Bishop Canevin baseball advances; OLSH, Cornell softball eliminated |

A standout pitching performance from Kole Olszewski and some timely hitting propelled Bishop Canevin to a 5-0 victory over Rochester Thursday in the opening round of the WPIAL Class 1A baseball tournament at Burkett Park in Robinson.

Olszewski limited the 13^th-seeded Rams to just four hits – all singles – and did not walk a batter until the seventh inning, when he issued two free passes. He struck out 10.

The two-time defending champion Crusaders, seeded fourth, will next face No. 5 seed Greensburg Central Catholic, which blanked Sewickley Academy, 14-0, in another first-round game Thursday.

That game will be played Tuesday at a time and location to be determined.

Bishop Canevin coach Craig Sonson liked what he saw of Olszewski’s performance on the mound.

“Kole did an outstanding job controlling the game and keeping (Rochester) off-balance,” he said.

“Anytime you win a playoff game, it’s big. We will get back to work and prepare for a good Greensburg Central Catholic team on Tuesday.”

Bishop Canevin scored what would prove to be the only run it would need in the bottom of the first inning on Olszewski’s double, a passed ball and Nate Astor’s RBI fielder’s choice.

The Crusaders, who improved to 11-6, added two more runs in the third to extend its lead to 3-0. Once again Olszewski had a hand in the scoring, as he singled home a run following a walk and a sacrifice to make it 2-0.

With two outs, Jackson Maddix tripled in a run, and the Crusaders led 3-0.

Bishop Canevin pushed the lead to 5-0 in the fifth, with Astor driving in a run with a double.

Rochester put up a brief fight in the seventh inning, coaxing a pair of walks off Olszewski with one out. But the senior hurler struck out the next batter to keep runners at first and second and then got Cole Poplin to ground out to second, ending the threat and the game.

Olszewski was outstanding through the first six, as he never allowed more than one runner to reach base in any inning, and no runner advanced past second. He issued singles in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

SOFTBALL

CLASS 2A

Apollo-Ridge 9, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 8

The Chargers dug themselves a deep hole and nearly climbed all the way out of it but fell a run short in their Class 2A playoff opener at Fox Chapel High School.

The loss ended OLSH’s season and left the ninth-seeded Chargers with an overall record of 9-7. Apollo-Ridge, seeded No. 8, improved to 14-4 and will move on to play No. 1 seed Neshannock in the quarterfinals.

OLSH trailed 9-1 heading into the sixth inning before scoring a pair of runs to pull within 9-3.

Camryn Hummel’s triple scored Julia Pinter, who led off the inning with a base hit, and Sydney Trippe singled home Hummel to make it 9-3.

Then in the top of the seventh, the Chargers nearly pulled off a miracle rally.

Olivia DiGiacomo led off the inning with a base hit and after two were out, Pinter singled her home. Leann Walzer kept the line moving with a single to put runners at first and second, and Kaylee Seskey’s base hit made it 9-5. A single by Hummel loaded the bases and Trippe delivered a two-run single to cut it to 9-7.

After Ava Ciummo was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Hummel scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-8, and the other runners advanced to second and third.

But Apollo-Ridge relief pitcher Mikaila Ditty preserved the win for her team by striking out the next OLSH batter.

Trippe led the way offensively for the Chargers with two hits and three RBIs while Pinter and Hummel each finished with two hits.

OLSH got on the board first in the top of the first inning, pushing across a run without the benefit of a hit.

Ciummo opened the game with a walk and after the next two batters struck out, Mya Eshenbaugh reached when her fly ball to center field was misplayed, and Ciummo came around to score.

The Vikings answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning when Madison Butler tripled with two outs and Ditty belted a two-run homer.

Apollo-Ridge added to its lead with seven more runs in the bottom of the third inning to make 9-1.

CLASS 1A

Serra Catholic 17, Cornell 2

Serra Catholic made quick work of Cornell Thursday, pounding out one-sided victory over the Raiders in the opening round of the WPIAL Class 1A Softball Tournament at Montour High School.

The Eagles, seeded No. 7, banged out 16 hits in the three-inning contest and also took advantage of four Cornell errors to win going away.

No. 10 seed Cornell, meanwhile, managed just one hit in three innings off Serra Catholic starting pitcher Kelly Morrissey and finished its season 7-8. Serra Catholic moves on to play Carmichaels in the quarterfinals.

The Eagles wasted no time taking the lead, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning.

Alonna Morton led off the inning with a home run to make it 1-0. Keyara Watkins followed with a double and Morrissey delivered a run-scoring base hit to increase the Eagles’ lead to 2-0.

Serra Catholic extended to its lead to 6-0 with a four-run outburst in the second inning and the Eagles ended the game in the third when they plated 11 runs.

Morton led Serra Catholic’s 16-hit attack by going 4 for 4 with 4 RBIs. Bailee Dayton had two hits and drove in three while Morrissey, Johanna Domek and Bianca Gajdos had two hits and two RBIs.

Samantha Melius accounted for Cornell’s lone hit – a single to lead off the third inning. Cornell’s two runs came home on a misplayed fly ball in the third.