Brian Hagberg
MEADVILLE, Pa. – Julian Trott set the tone by ripping the first pitch he saw into centerfield for the first of two triples as West Middlesex defeated Youngsville, 10-3, in their District 10 Class 1A semifinal at Allegheny College.
Trott scored the first run of the game when Nate Lucks’ attempted pickoff throw went past Ian Mancuso at third.
The Eagles looked to be building some momentum in the first after a 1-out James Johnson walk and Lucks single had runners on first and second. Keegan Mesel hit into a tough luck fielder’s choice to shallow center. The ball landed but Trott was able to get the force out at second as Lucks had to hold until the ball fell for a hit.
Instead of bases loaded with one out, Youngsville had runners on the corners with two outs. WM pitcher Richie Preston induced a groundout to end the threat.
Kyle Gilson hit a one-out double in the second and came home on Tyler Blanton’s single to double the Big Reds’ lead. Blaze Knight followed with a walk, then Trott stepped in a ripped another triple to center, this one plated a pair and gave WM a 4-0 lead.
Matt DeSimone cut into the lead in the third. DeSimone hit a single to center. Trott wasn’t able to handle the hop cleanly and DeSimone raced all the way home as the ball went to the wall.
Youngsville tried to keep Trott from doing any more damage by giving him an intentional walk with a runner on third in the fourth, but Lucks was called for a balk before the next pitch and Gavin Rose came home to make it 5-1.
The Big Reds plated four runs in the fifth, thanks in part to three Eagles’ errors in the inning. Youngsville committed seven errors in the game.
West Middlesex scored its 10th run in the sixth thanks to a bang-bang play at first and heads-up baserunning. With the bases loaded, Gilson hit a slow chopper back to Lucks. Lucks tossed to Mesel to get the force out at the plate. Mesel tried to turn a double play at first, but Gilson beat the throw.
As Wyatt Dalrymple was walking the ball in from first, Gio Rococi took off for home. Dalrymple fired back to Mesel, but Rococi slid under the tag for the run.
See the play:
Youngsville tried to stage a 7th inning rally. Ian Mancuso led off with a double, Aidan Mancuso was hit by a pitch, and, one out later, Ethan Senz was hit to load the bases. DeSimone hit a sac fly to center, and Johnson followed with an RBI-single.
Senz tried to score on a passed ball, but Knight was able to throw to Rococi who applied the tag for the final out.
Trott had two hits and drove in a pair, Rococi scored twice, and Rose scored three times.
Preston picked up the win allowing one unearned run on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Rococi allowed two earned runs on two hits with two strikeouts in two innings.
Mesel had two hits for the Eagles. DeSimone and Johnson each had an RBI.
Lucks took the loss allowing 10 runs, five earned on nine hits with four walks and eight strikeouts.
West Middlesex will take on top-seeded Saegertown, a 14-4 winner in five innings over Cochranton, for the D10 title at 11 a.m. on Monday at Slippery Rock University.
