Apr 10, 2019 3 min read

MONONGAHELA – The first inning proved to be the difference in Ringgold’s 4-3 win over rival Belle Vernon Area Wednesday in Section 3 of Class 4A.

How so?

BVA’s first three batters of the game reached base, yet the Leopards left the bases loaded as Ringgold pitcher Chase Angotti settled down.

In the bottom of the inning, Ringgold (3-1, 4-3) scored four runs on five hits off of Belle Vernon pitcher Cole Naylor before he found his groove.

“That was big getting out of the inning with no runs as we were almost conceding a run,” said Ringgold coach Don Roberts. “It was nice to get the four runs early as we have been struggling at the plate.”

BVA coach Daryl Hixenbaugh felt that first inning was key.

“We lost the game in the first inning and give our kids credit; they battled back,” he said. “We were under the ball at the plate and it is a process.”

Travis Drusbasky led off with a single and he scored two batters later on an RBI-double by Bobby Boyer.

Nick Kolano followed with a two-run single and Sam Daerr drove in the eventual game-winner with a sacrifice fly.

Despite giving up the four runs in the first, Naylor shut the Rams down the rest of the way as they did not score another run and only managed two more hits.

“After the way we started, we wanted to chase their pitcher but it didn’t work out that way as he shut us down the rest of the way,” said Roberts. “We have to be just a bit more patient at the plate.”

The Leopards (2-2, 2-4) were able to get on base against Angotti, but they stranded 10 runners.

BVA finally was able to get on the board in the third. Josh Hoffman led the inning off with a walk and stole second. Angotti was able to get the next two batters out, but Tyler Steadman singled Hoffman in.

After reaching his pitch limit against the last batter of the sixth, Angotti exited with a 4-1 lead having given up one run on four hits. Nate Pajak took over in the seventh and Belle Vernon attempted a comeback.

Garrett Greco singled to lead off the inning and, two batters later, Andrew Sokol walked. With two outs, Steadman blooped a single perfectly placed between Ringgold’s second baseman, center fielder and right fielder.

Greco and Sokol scored to make the score 4-3, but Pajak was able to get Erik Pietrantoni to fly out to end the game.

Both teams are home Friday with section games as Ringgold hosts South Park and Belle Vernon entertains McKeesport.