Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Game Recaps: District 10 Finals

May 26, 2015

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

Slippery Rock University's Jack Critchfield Park has become the home of the District 10 finals on Memorial Day each year. Yesterday 2015 district champions were crowned in three classifications with all three winners punching a ticket to the state tournament beginning Monday, June 1. All three district champions will play host to an opponent on that date in a tripleheader to be played once again at Critchfield Park.

District 10 Class A: Eisenhower 15, Rocky Grove 0

Casey VincentA pitching duel between Eisenhower 2016 righty Casey Vincent (right) and promising Rocky Grove 2018 right-hander Travis Perry quickly turned into a runaway victory for the Knights. Eisenhower broke open a scoreless tie in the 5th inning plating five runs, bolstered by some suspect defense by Rocky Grove. Eisenhower tacked on three runs in the 6th and put the game away with seven additional runs in the 7th.

Vincent impressed in going the distance allowing just four hits while not walking a batter. Perry displayed good stuff and maturity beyond his years in matching Vincent pitch-for-pitch early. The freshman ended up working five innings allowing five runs, none earned, on just three hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out seven in a solid performance.

Eisenhower advances to the first round of the state tournament and will host the No. 2 seed from District IX on June 1 at Critchfield Park. The representative from District IX will be determined when Clarion Area and Osweyo play for the District title on Thursday. The loser will travel to Slippery Rock to take on Eisenhower in the first round.

District 10 Class AA: Mercyhurst prep 10, sharon 0

Chris VallimontThe Sharon Tigers entered the District 10 tournament with a losing record but managed to pull out a 5-3 win over Franklin and an 11-5 win over Titusville to get to Monday's championship game. A third consecutive upset was not in the cards as Mercyhurst Prep sent 10 hitters to the plate and scored four runs in the opening frame in cruising to a 10-0, six inning win.

The story of the day was the pitching and hitting of Mercyhurst bound Chris Vallimont (right). The 6-foot-4, 210-pound righty, while not overpowering, was at his best with runners in scoring position. The senior allowed just three hits on the day, walked two and struck out eleven. Vallimont stranded runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings by registering a strikeout in each frame to shut the door. Vallimont also led the Mercyhurst Prep 12 hit attack going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Mercyhurst Prep moves on to the state tournament where they will play host to the District VII No. 3 seed on June 1 at Critchfield Park. The consolation game to determine their opponent will be contested tonight between Keystone Oaks and Steel Valley at Washington & Jefferson College.

District 10 Class AAA: Cathedral prep  6, slippery rock 4

Behind a largely home crowd of over 1,000 fans in attendance, Slippery Rock (19-2) gave Cathedral Prep (21-2) all it could handle and then some before finally falling 6-4 in the day's final game. An eventful game that had numerous lead changes and plenty of drama, was not decided until Cathedral Prep sophomore lefty Mark Majewski was able to wiggle out of a first and second, no outs jam in the top of the 7th to preserve the win. 

Majewski had come on in relief of Nebraska recruit Carter Cross after the junior righty had walked the lead-off hitter in the 7th. Cross had reached 122 pitches on the evening and the call to the bullpen was made. Majewski promptly walked the first batter he faced but induced a unique double play ball when the following Rock hitter lined out to center field. Cross, who had moved to center field when he left the mound, made a back-handed catch on a dead run to the center field wall and then was able to double the Slippery Rock runner off of second base when he was ruled out for not tagging up.

Josh Bowser followed with a double for Slippery Rock to give Slippery Rock the tying runs in scoring position, but Majewski induced a routine fly ball to Cross in center to end the game.

Cross fought command issues all evening allowing just two hits, but walking nine and hitting a batter. He allowed four runs, all earned, but escaped a number of jams by registering eight strikeouts on the evening.

Jake ArienzoSlippery Rock starter Jake Arienzo (right), a Clarion recruit, mixed an assortment of off-speed pitches effectively to keep Cathedral Prep hitters off balance. The senior lefty worked 4.1 innings allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits.

Cathedral Prep was led offensively by Nick Hess (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) and Mike Douds (2-for2). Sophomore third baseman Danny Williams led the Rockets going 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI on the evening.

The Ramblers will host the District VII No. 3 seed at Critchfield Park on June 1. Their opponent will be determined when Chartiers Valley and Montour lock horns in a consolation game at Washington & Jefferson College tomorrow with the winner advancing to the state tournament.


Previous PA News