Blue Mountain's Sonny Amato steps in the batter's box during a Schuylkill League Division I game against North Schuylkill (Photo by Eli Doyle).

Shenandoah Valley earns win; Nativity, Panther Valley, Minersville fall in competitive slate

WYOMISSING — Ryan Clemas outdueled Wyomissing’s staff and Sonny Amato delivered the decisive swing as Blue Mountain edged out a tight road win.

The Eagles slipped past Wyomissing 3-2 in a non-league baseball game Friday, riding a complete-game effort from Clemas and just enough timely hitting to break through late.

Blue Mountain struck first with two runs in the opening inning, then leaned on Clemas to protect the lead. The right-hander went the distance, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out five, consistently working out of trouble as Wyomissing threatened in the middle innings.

Wyomissing chipped away with single runs in the third and fifth to tighten things up but couldn’t find the equalizer late.

At the plate, Amato and Aiden Finn each collected two hits for Blue Mountain, which finished with six hits and played clean defense behind its starter. The Eagles did just enough offensively and relied on steady pitching to secure the narrow victory on the road.

Amato collected all three RBIs.

Clemas and Amato; Cirulli, Graham (5), Rauenzahn (7) and Goodhead. W — Clemas (2-0). L — Cirulli.

HITS: Wyomissing — White 2, Rauenzahn, Cirulli. Blue Mountain — Finn 2, Strause, Amato 2, Hoover.

2B — Finn.

Shenandoah Valley 6, MMI Prep 3

FREELAND — Jostin Lajara drove the offense and set the tone on the mound as Shenandoah Valley picked up a non-league win over MMI Prep.

Lajara collected two hits and drove in three runs while also handling the start, helping the Blue Devils take control early. Shenandoah Valley jumped out in the first inning and regained the lead for good in the third, capitalizing on an error before adding insurance with a three-run fourth.

Ethan Bench and Chase McCole each added two hits as Shenandoah Valley totaled nine hits and stayed aggressive on the bases, swiping multiple bags to keep pressure on MMI throughout.

Jt. Lajara, McCole (5) and Kechula; Drobnock, Radzwicz (5) and Santana. W — Jt. Lajara (1-0). L — Drobnock.

HITS: Shenandoah Valley — McCole 2, Jt. Lajara 2, Bench 2, Getz, Gradwell, Jw. Lajara. MMI Prep — Santana.

2B — McCole 2, Jt. Lajara.

Marian 7, Tamaqua 0

TAMAQUA — Roman Bednarek set the tone from the start and Marian backed him with timely hitting in a non-league win over Tamaqua.

Bednarek carried a no-hitter into the seventh, finishing with six shutout innings while striking out seven as the Colts kept the Blue Raiders off the board. Marian struck quickly with three runs in the first inning behind hits from Noah Bauder and Cole Jordan, along with an error that helped extend the early lead.

The Colts added insurance in the middle innings and put the game away late, highlighted by a two-run home run from Chase Grier. Marian finished with seven hits, getting contributions throughout the lineup from Bauder, Jordan, Cole Defrancisco and others while also applying pressure with aggressive baserunning.

Tamaqua was held without a hit and struggled to generate offense, while Gavan Hess worked through early traffic on the mound.

Bednarek, Lemus (7) and Reaman; Hess, Kamant (5), Rex (7) and Witkowski. W — Bednarek (4-0). L — Hess (0-6).

HITS: Marian — Bauder, Jordan, Defrancisco, Grant, Grier, Lemus, Reaman. Tamaqua — none.

2B — Reaman. HR — Grier.

Hamburg 6, Nativity 3

HAMBURG — Stephen Karinch collected two hits, but Nativity couldn’t hold an early lead in a non-league loss to Hamburg.

The Hilltoppers pushed across three runs in the second inning, taking advantage of a walk and a dropped third strike to move in front briefly. The Hawks answered right away, then took control for good with a four-run fourth inning fueled by a mix of timely hitting and an error.

Karinch led Nativity with two hits, while Tommy Bartashus and Cash Kalkiewicz added the other knocks in a four-hit effort.

Examitas, Keating (6) and catcher; Barata, Rodriguez (6) and Ernst. W — Barata. L — Examitas (2-3). S — Rodriguez.

HITS: Nativity — Karinch 2, Bartashus, Kalkiewicz. Hamburg — Gough, Stewart 2, Schmeck, Ryan, Rodriguez 2, Valentino.

2B — Rodriguez.

Jim Thorpe 5, Panther Valley 2

LANSFORD — Danny Wehr did all he could to keep Panther Valley in it, but a late rally by Jim Thorpe proved to be the difference in a non-league loss.

Wehr struck out 10 over five strong innings and added two hits at the plate as the Panthers battled throughout. Panther Valley answered early runs and stayed even through four innings, tying the game at 2-2 behind contributions from Wehr and Brody Breiner.

The Panthers had chances, collecting seven hits and working multiple walks, but couldn’t find the big hit to take control.

Hoherchak, Levan (5) and Murphy; Wehr, Breiner (6) and Koerbler. W — Levan. L — Breiner (1-3).

HITS: Jim Thorpe — Lazorick 2, Pastor, Schrantz 2, Antignani. Panther Valley — Mazzie, Wehr 2, Breiner, Jones, Lazar, Cooper.

2B — Schrantz. 3B — Schrantz, Lazorick.

Southern Columbia 13, Minersville 1, 5 inn.

MINERSVILLE — A tough second inning proved too much to overcome as Minersville fell to Southern Columbia in a non-league game.

The Battlin’ Miners were held in check early while Southern Columbia erupted for seven runs in the second inning, quickly creating separation. Minersville struggled to slow the momentum as the Tigers added on in the fourth to extend the lead.

Brody Rogers led the Miners at the plate with two hits, while Jason Correll added a double in a five-hit effort. Minersville broke through for its lone run late but couldn’t generate enough offense to close the gap.

Everitt, Hopper (3), Myers (5) and Richard; J. Plesnarski, Correll (3), Cutler (4) and B. Rogers. W — Everitt. L — J. Plesnarski (2-3).

HITS: Southern Columbia — Andrews, Hopper, Myers, Yost 2, Hockenbroch 2, Makowski, Novak, Zachman, Barnette. Minersville — C. Rogers, Rizzardi, Correll, B. Rogers 2.

2B — Correll, Yost, Makowski, Zachman. 3B — Andrews. HR — Yost.