Hughesville rallies in 7th inning for 8-2 win over Belle Vernon
Hughesville rallied in the top of the seventh inning Saturday afternoon for an 8-2 victory over Belle Vernon in the first game of the Pennsylvania State American Legion Baseball Championship at North Allegheny.
The win was the first ever for Hughesville in the state tournament.
Belle Vernon slips into the loser’s bracket and will play the loser of the Murrysville-Wesleyville game on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. Hughesville, the Region 5 champion, plays the winner at 7 p.m.
Belle Vernon starting pitcher JB Crovak walked Eli Olshefskie and Jackson Lunger to start the seventh inning. Crovak hit Aiden Bartlett to load the bases and run his pitch total to the max.
AJ Wardropper came on in relief and hit the first two batters, the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters, he faced to tie the game. Hughesville then moved into its first lead on Logan Kiess’ two-run double.
Tyler Wetzel followed with a two RBI single. Trent Wetzel brought home Tyler Wetzel with a single.
Lunger’s sacrifice fly, the first out of the inning after 10 had safely reached base, plated another run.
Belle Vernon was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh inning with Kiess getting the first two outs to earn the win and Trent Wetzel the last for the save.
Hughesville trailed 2-0 after six innings and was held to four hits by Crovak.
After allowing a game-opening single, Crovak faced the minimum through three innings with the help of a caught stealing and five strikeouts.
Crovak struck out the first two batters of the fourth inning, running his total to six in a row. He walked back-to-back batters, but closed the threat with a ground out.
Crovak gave up back-to-back singles with one out in the top of the fifth inning, but wiggled out with a strikeout and fly ball to center field.
Crovak settled down in the sixth inning and retired the side in order.
Belle Vernon jumped out to the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning.
Jake Wessel walked to start the inning and Crovak was hit by a pitch. Wessel scored on Colton Lee’s single.
Hughesville ended the threat with a double play.
Belle Vernon loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second inning, but Bartlett’s throw to the plate was on target for the out on Wardropper for another inning-ending double play.
Belle Vernon added to its lead in the fifth inning.
Mason Suss was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Wessel and Crovak singled to load the bases, and Suss scored on Lee’s ground out.