Cole Defrancisco, Marian baseball

Rynard, Slotcavage, Plesnarski lead big performances across Schuylkill League

POTTSVILLE — A big middle inning gave Marian all the separation it needed, and the Colts took care of the rest from there.

Marian defeated Nativity 5-2 in a Schuylkill League Division II baseball game Tuesday atop Lawton’s Hill, using a three-run fourth inning to swing momentum and secure the road win.

The Colts broke through in the fourth when Brayden Grant delivered an RBI single and Ethan Labenburg followed with a two-run double to put Marian in front for good. They added insurance in the sixth, while the pitching staff kept Nativity from mounting a comeback.

Cole Defrancisco earned the win, working into the fifth while allowing two runs on four hits. Cole Jordan finished things off in relief, helping limit the Hilltoppers to five hits overall.

Labenburg and Danny Lemus each collected two hits to lead Marian, while Grant and Labenburg both drove in two runs.

Stephen Karinch led Nativity at the plate with a double and a single. The Toppers added RBIs from Ryan Grabowski and Karinch, but couldn’t generate enough offense to climb back in it after getting on the board in the fifth.

Defrancisco, Jordan (5) and Labenburg; Grabowski and Bartashus. W — Defrancisco (3-0). L — Grabowski (0-7).

HITS: Marian — Bednarek, Grigouli, Grant, Labenburg 2, Lemus 2. Nativity — Keating, Karinch 2, Grabowski, Kalkiewicz.

2B — Labenburg 2, Karinch.

Blue Mountain 2, Tamaqua 0

ORWIGSBURG — Riley Sebastian was in complete control on the mound as Blue Mountain shut down Tamaqua in a Division I game.

Sebastian tossed a one-hit shutout, striking out 12 and keeping the Blue Raiders off balance all afternoon. The Eagles gave him just enough support, scratching across runs in the second and fifth innings to secure the win.

Brady Strause and Sonny Amato each collected two hits to pace Blue Mountain’s offense, while Evan Setlock drove in a run. The Eagles made the most of limited opportunities and played clean baseball behind their ace.

Tamaqua managed just one hit, coming from Haniel Montero, but couldn’t generate any sustained offense against Sebastian. Jake Yenser kept things close with a strong effort on the mound, but the Blue Raiders were unable to break through.

Yenser and Witkowski; Sebastian and Amato. W — Sebastian (3-0). L — Yenser (2-4).

HITS: Tamaqua — Montero. Blue Mountain — Strause 2, Amato 2.

Pottsville 6, Panther Valley 2

LANSFORD — Dom Rynard overpowered Panther Valley with a dominant outing as Pottsville picked up a Division I win.

Rynard struck out 13 and allowed just one hit over seven innings, controlling the game from the mound while also contributing at the plate with two hits, including a home run.

Pottsville built its lead steadily, getting RBIs from Christian Alvarez and Brody Hess before adding on late. Alvarez drove in three runs, while Rynard and Max Clews each collected two hits as the Crimson Tide finished with seven.

Panther Valley managed just one hit, coming from Kaden Koerbler, but scratched across two runs late. Danny Wehr kept things competitive early with a solid start for the Panthers.

Rynard and Ciavarella; Wehr, Perilli (7) and Koerbler. W — Rynard (4-1). L — Wehr (3-4).

HITS: Pottsville — Trout, Rynard 2, Clews 2, Hess, Alvarez. Panther Valley — Koerbler.

2B — Alvarez, Rynard, Trout, Koerbler. HR — Rynard.

Shenandoah Valley 10, Mahanoy Area 8

MAHANOY CITY — Ethan Bench and Chase McCole helped Shenandoah Valley survive a wild, back-and-forth game against Mahanoy Area in a Division II contest.

The Blue Devils built an early lead, saw it disappear, then answered late with a four-run seventh inning to regain control.

Bench delivered key hits in the middle of the lineup, finishing with two hits and three RBIs, while McCole added two hits and struck out nine over five innings on the mound.

The Golden Bears battled throughout, rallying to tie the game in the fifth behind timely hitting and aggressive baserunning. Ryan Zilker led Mahanoy Area with two hits and three RBIs, while Owen Ogrodnick added two hits as the Bears stayed within striking distance.

McCole, Bench (6) and Kechula; Noraka, Price (6) and Gambone. W — Bench (3-3). L — Price (1-2).

HITS: Shenandoah Valley — McCole 2, Kechula, Jt. Lajara, Bench 2. Mahanoy Area — Ogrodnick 2, Wagner, Noraka, Zilker 2, Price.

2B — McCole, Jt. Lajara, Zilker.

North Schuylkill 11, Pine Grove 1, 5 inn.

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Chase Slotcavage powered North Schuylkill on both sides of the ball in a decisive Division I win over Pine Grove.

Slotcavage drove in four runs and scattered six hits over five innings on the mound, striking out eight to lead the Spartans’ effort. North Schuylkill answered Pine Grove’s early run right away, then broke things open with a big second inning highlighted by a three-run double from Hunter Rogers.

The Spartans piled up nine hits, with Slotcavage collecting three and Aaron Brayford adding two. Landen Smith, Kole Rollenhagen and Dylan Cairo each chipped in as North Schuylkill continued to apply pressure at the plate.

Pine Grove managed six hits, getting one apiece from Dane Hannevig, Ian Brown, Wyatt Snyder, Kaiden Umbenhauer, Jett Anthony and Brandon Gibson.

Snyder, Gibson (3) and Dixon; Slotcavage and Rollenhagen. W — Slotcavage (4-1). L — Snyder (2-4).

HITS: Pine Grove — Hannevig, Brown, Snyder, Umbenhauer, Anthony, Gibson. North Schuylkill — Brayford 2, Rogers, Slotcavage 3, Smith, Rollenhagen, Cairo.

2B — Brayford, Rogers, Hannevig, Umbenhauer, Snyder.

Minersville 10, Weatherly 0, 5 inn.

MINERSVILLE — Nolan Plesnarski couldn’t be stopped at the plate and Jude Plesnarski handled the rest as Minersville rolled in a Division II matchup.

Nolan Plesnarski went a perfect 4-for-4 to lead a 13-hit attack, while Jude Plesnarski tossed a two-hit shutout with eight strikeouts over five innings. The Battlin’ Miners jumped on Weatherly early and never let up, scoring in each of the first four innings to take control.

Garrett Sukeena added two hits and drove in four runs, while Cam Rogers, Jayce Rizzardi and others contributed to a balanced offensive effort. Minersville also played clean defense behind its pitching, committing no errors.

Weatherly managed just two hits, coming from Kameron Jacoby and Noah Mayernick, and couldn’t generate any sustained offense against Jude Plesnarski as the Miners pulled away quickly.

Donadi, Connors (5) and Suarez; J. Plesnarski and B. Rogers. W — J. Plesnarski (3-3). L — Donadi (0-5).

HITS: Weatherly — Jacoby, Mayernick. Minersville — N. Plesnarski 4, C. Rogers, Fickes, Sukeena 2, Rizzardi, J. Plesnarski, Halupa.

2B — B. Rogers. 3B — Rizzardi.