Pottsville's pitcher Dom Rynard (center) looks for a sign from the catcher, while shortstop Andrew Allen prepares for the pitch delivery (Photo by Eli Doyle)

Pottsville erupts in seventh; Slotcavage tosses no-hitter; Dawgs, Colts, Toppers, and Vikes roll

PINE GROVE — Who says crooked numbers have to come early?

Trailing by three runs entering the seventh inning, Pottsville erupted for six runs and stormed past Pine Grove 7-4 in a Schuylkill League Division I ballgame game Tuesday at Stump Stadium.

For six innings, it looked like Pine Grove was in control. The Cardinals capitalized on early opportunities and took advantage of free passes to build a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Crimson Tide miscues and patient at-bats allowed Pine Grove to manufacture runs despite limited hits.

The Cardinals added to their lead in the fourth, pushing it to 4-0 behind steady pitching from Wyatt Snyder, who kept Pottsville off balance while working into the late innings.

The Crimson Tide finally broke through in the sixth. After being held scoreless through five, the Tide scratched across a run to cut into the deficit and set the stage for a dramatic finish.

That finish came in the seventh.

Pottsville sent 10 batters to the plate and flipped the game on its head with a six-run outburst. Key hits and timely execution turned the momentum completely, highlighted by Landon Trout’s two-run single that gave the Crimson Tide their first lead of the game.

Dom Rynard led the offense with three hits, including a double, while Landon Trout and Brody Eroh each added hits in the rally.

The Tide committed just one error defensively, making both the routine and non-routine plays — including Max Clews, who took a near-certain hit away from Kaiden Umbenhauer with a diving stop on a screaming liner down the third-base line (see below).

On the mound, Brody Hess earned the win in relief, shutting down Pine Grove over the final two-plus innings while striking out four. Rynard started and kept Pottsville within striking distance despite early trouble.

Pine Grove was limited to just three hits, with Jake Hatter, Snyder and Chase Nagle each recording one. The Cardinals drew eight walks but couldn’t convert enough of those opportunities into runs late.

After controlling much of the game, Pine Grove couldn’t answer Pottsville’s late surge, as the Crimson Tide completed the comeback and escaped with a key road win.

Rynard, Hess (5) and Ciavarella; Snyder, Brown (7), Hatter (7) and Dixon. W – Hess (2-0). L – Brown (0-1).

Hits: Pottsville – Trout, Eroh, Rynard 3, Allen. Pine Grove – Hatter, Snyder, Nagle.

2B – Rynard.

North Schuylkill 9, Panther Valley 0

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Chase Slotcavage fired a no-hitter to lead North Schuylkill past Panther Valley in a Division I contest.

The Spartans broke the game open with six runs in the third inning, taking advantage of walks and timely hits to build a commanding lead.

Slotcavage earned the win, striking out batters while keeping Panther Valley off the bases and in shutout effort.

North Schuylkill finished with eight hits, with Aaron Brayford and Hunter Rogers collecting two apiece.

Yuricheck, Perilli (3) and Koerbler; Slotcavage and Rollenhagen. W – Slotcavage (2-0). L – Yuricheck (0-1).

Hits: Panther Valley – none. North Schuylkill – Brayford 2, Roger 2, Rollenhagen, Hubler, Minahan, Monahan.

2B – Brayford, Rogers, Minahan.

Tri-Valley 7, Blue Mountain 1

HEGINS — Tri-Valley scored four runs in the third inning and added three more in the sixth inning to defeat Blue Mountain in a Division I game.

Braeden Doyle earned the win on the mound, limiting the Eagles while working through.

The Dawgs finished with 11 hits and took advantage of Blue Mountain errors to build separation. Gavin Klock added a three-run home run, while Gavin Scheib collected a double and Tri-Valley strung together timely hits throughout.

Blue Mountain managed six hits, with Aiden Finn and Josh Hoover collecting two apiece.

Setlock, Pritiskutch (6) and Sebastian; Doyle, Klock (7) and Troutman. W – Doyle (3-1). L – Setlock (2-1).

Hits: Blue Mountain – Finn 2, Strause, Kirby, Amato, Hoover 2. Tri-Valley – name, name.

2B – Scheib. HR – Klock.

Marian 13, Shenandoah Valley 3, 5 inn.

HOMETOWN — Marian used a pair of big innings to rout Shenandoah Valley in five innings in a Division II ballgame.

After the teams traded early runs, the Colts broke the game open with five runs in the third inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Jon Derr to take control.

Derr, Cole Defrancisco and Brayden Grant each collected two hits to lead the Colts’ offense.

McCole, Morel (3) and Kechula; Defrancisco, Jordan (5) and Labenburg. W – Defrancisco (2-0). L – McCole (2-1).

Hits: Shenandoah Valley – McCole, Bench, Getz 2, Saba. Marian – Bauder, Bednarek, Cannon, Defrancisco 2, Derr 2, Grant 2.

2B – Getz, Derr, Dednarek. HR – Derr.

Nativity 12, Mahanoy Area 1, 5 inn.

POTTSVILLE — Nativity erupted for 11 runs in the first inning and cruised past Mahanoy Area in five innings in a Division II matchup.

Trey Keating highlighted the inning for the Hilltoppers with a two-run double, while Levi Frehafer and Nick Clarke added RBI hits. Ryan Examitas earned the win, allowing one run on three hits over four innings.

Mahanoy Area managed three hits, with Brody Noraka, Jordany Oviedo and Joe Rick each recording one.

Examitas, Lutkanin (5) and Bartashus, Tresize; Zilker, Wagner (1), Alvarado (1) and Gambone. W – Examitas (1-0). L – Zilker (0-1).

Hits: Mahanoy Area – Noraka, Oviedo, Rick. Nativity – Keating, Felty, Clarke, Daubert, Frehafer.

2B – Keating.

Williams Valley 15, Weatherly 0, 3 inn.

TOWER CITY — Williams Valley wasted no time taking control and rolled past Weatherl in three innings in a Division II contest.

The Vikings finished with 11 hits, led by Fletcher Thompson and Gavin Deiter with two apiece. Thompson, Gavin Trawitz and Chevy Green each drove in two runs.

Weatherly was limited to one hit, coming from Jeremiah Donadi.

Connors, Montz (2), Jacoby (2) and Suarez; Berger, Hubler (3) and Mihalick. W – Berger (1-0). L – Connors (0-1).

Hits: Weatherly – Donadi. Williams Valley – Thompson 2, Rautzahn, Bowser, Trawitz, Schaeffer, Deiter 2, Green, Mihalick, Hubler.

2B – Hubler, Thompson.

Palmerton 7, Tamaqua 0

PALMERTON —

Hess, Frohnheiser (4) and Witkowski; Pengelly and catcher. W – Pengelly. L – Hess (0-2).

Hits: Tamaqua – Witkowski. Palmerton – Matkso 2, Reph, McGowan, Pengelly 2, Wilson 2.

2B – Reph, Pengelly.