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Central PA Notebook

April 15, 2013

By Jacob Oswalt
Central PA Area Scout

Finally, Central Pennsylvania baseball has gotten into full swing with some decent spring weather this past week. Most teams were able to play two games last week and face a full schedule of games over the next seven days. Some notes on the week that was in Central PA:

UPSET OF THE WEEK: Cambria Heights 6, Bishop McCort 5

  • NeiderhiserTied at two going into the seventh inning on Friday, Cambria Heights (3-2) scored four runs in the seventh to take a 6-2 lead. All of the highlanders' runs in the game were unearned largely due to McCort's five errors. Heights senior pitcher Nathan Bearer went the distance, striking out ten and barely held off the defending PIAA class A champions. Senior RF Brett Sammarco went 3-for-4 with a triple in the upset. McCort (5-2) junior LHP Nathan Neiderhiser went 6.1 innings, striking out eight and giving up five unearned runs. McCort junior Brad Coleman went 3-for-4, while Nathan and Ethan Neiderhiser each had two hits. 

GAME OF THE WEEK: Bishop McCort 3, Bedford 2

  • Down to its last strike in the bottom of the seventh inning on Thursday, McCort (5-1) scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to show their championship grit and their "refuse to lose" mentality. With one out and facing a 2-1 deficit, junior OF Nemo Trexler walked and then stole second base. After a strikeout, junior three-hitter Nathan Neiderhiser lined a 1-2 pitch to left field to plate the tying run on a double. Senior 1B Luke Williams followed with an RBI single down the third base line to walk off with a win over a strong Bedford (4-1) team. Bedford freshman LHP Dylan Downs had a nice start, giving up only one in four quality innings. McCort junior RHP Justin Vardian gave up two runs in the first, but then held the Bison hitless after the second innning. Vardian got the complete game victory, striking out nine and only walking two in a great performance to keep the Crushers within striking distance in the later innings.

PITCHING PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Dan Bowman, Central Cambria HS

  • In Central Cambria's first game of the year on Monday, RHP Dan Bowman (2013) showed no rust from the long winter. Bowman threw all five innings against Forest Hills in a 10-0 game shortened by the mercy rule. He allowed only one hit and struck out 13 batters. Bowman helped his own cause at the plate collecting two hits.

RUNNER-UP PITCHING PERFORMANCE: Zack Beneke, Ferndale HS

+ Super sophomore Zack Beneke took a no-hitter into the seventh inning on Monday. After the first out of the 7th, Dave Yoder of Conemaugh Township singled. Beneke went on to finish the 3-0 victory over the District 5 power with seven strikeouts in the process.

OTHER TOP PITCHING PERFORMANCES:

RHP Brad Coleman, Bishop McCort HS, 2014 - Coleman went five innings on Monday in a 7-2 win over city rival Johnstown. He struck out 11 in the game to earn the victory.

RHP Drew Hemminger, Somerset HS, 2013 - Hemminger threw six strong innings on Monday in a 4-1 victory over Richland, striking out seven and walking only one in a four-hitter. Hemminger added to his own cause with a 3-for-3 day at the plate with an RBI.

HITTING PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Brent Barron, Somerset HS

  • Brent Barron (2013) went 2-for-3 with a home run and five RBI in a 21-5 victory over Johnstown on Tuesday. Barron also scored two runs and drove in one of his runs with a sacrifice fly.

OTHER STRONG HITTING PERFORMANCES:

Trey Claar, Claysburg-Kimmel HS, 2013 - Claar went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and three RBI in a 9-7 victory over Portage on Monday.

Luke Campbell, Bedford HS, 2013 - Campbell went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run in a 11-1 victory over Westmont-Hilltop.

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