Marra, Vecchiolla lead Mustangs to victory over Hillers
Jonathan Guth/Herald-Standard
Laurel Highlands’ Santino Marra dives back to first base as Trinity first baseman Michael Parrish is about to field the ball on a pick-off attempt Monday’s game at Tom Landman Field. Marra, who got back safely, was 4 for 4 with four runs scored and two RBIs in Laurel Highlands’ 15-0 victory.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Laurel Highlands starting pitcher Andino Vecchiolla throws during the first inning of Monday’s Section 3-AAAAA game against Trinity at Tom Landman Field.
Santino Marra had four hits and Andino Vecchiolla pitched a one-hit shutout to lead Laurel Highlands to a 15-0 Section 3 victory over Trinity in Class 5A on Monday at Tom Landman Field.
The Mustangs (5-2, 8-2) avenged a 2-1 loss on April 8 to the Hillers (3-4, 7-7) to remain in second place in the section. West Allegheny (6-0, 9-1) is in first. Trinity slides to fourth behind Montour and Chartiers Valley, who were idle at 3-3. Carrick (1-5, 3-6) and Albert Gallatin (1-5, 2-6) round out the standings. LH and the Hillers were the only Section 3 teams to play on Monday.
“We were able to take advantage of what was given to us,” Laurel Highlands coach Scott DeBerry said. “You have to go out and play your game. We played well against them the first time. We just couldn’t get a hit when we needed to.
“Andino (Vecchiolla) had his better stuff today. I think he might have been a little tired against Albert Gallatin. Santino has been very consistent and there for us all year. You kind of hate to say it, but you kind of take it for granted, and you shouldn’t, but he has been there all year.”
Marra, who bats leadoff, had four singles, four runs scored and two RBI. Vecchiolla, who improved to 4-0 with one save, allowed one hit, a double in the fourth inning to Jared Watson, in four innings, as the game was called because of the 15-run mercy rule. The lefty had five strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter.
“My approach was to just pound the zone,” Vecchiolla said. “I didn’t have my best game against Albert Gallatin, but I felt good today. My defense always plays great behind me. We wanted to come out and make a statement after they beat us the first time.”
Marra, who is in his first year playing varsity, has been putting in extra work on his swing, and the practice is starting to pay off.
“I am very proud of our offense and how we have been hitting,” Marra said. “In regards to my approach at the plate, I have been hitting more balls in the cage, working on my swing and my stance.”
“It has been great so far and a lot of fun. I am glad for the opportunity to be able to play. It is an honor to be able to play on the same infield as some of the past players here at Laurel Highlands that have been so good. I think we are going to do well this year. We want to keep the tradition going.”
The Hillers have lost their last four games after starting the season 3-0 in section play. Trinity’s ace pitcher Camden Zaken, who is 3-0, has been out of action the last week because of an illness. Zaken also bats .433 and starts at shortstop when not pitching. Trinity was also without its starting third baseman.
“Ever since we have been down two of our top players, it is kind of like we turned a light switch off and got away from playing our game,” Trinity coach Shawn Allen said. “That was a good lesson in just putting the bat on the ball.
“We get caught up in swinging for the fences constantly, and that team just showed us if you go up there, hit strikes, put the bat on the ball, good things will happen. We started the year with that philosophy, but we just got away from it.”
“They didn’t have their best guy, or their second guy available,” DeBerry said. “And that made a huge difference because those guys are really tough, bulldogs. I’m not taking away from what we did or anything, but when you lose your No. 1 guy like that, it hurts you.”
Laurel Highlands jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first, as Marra singled to left, moved to second on a groundout and third on a wild pitch before scoring on Nate Zimcosky’s single to left.
Justin Brestensky singled up the middle, stole second and Zimcosky scored on Greg Hensh’s single for a 2-0 advantage.
Brestensky and Hensh scored when Kaleb Scott reached second on an error. Courtesy runner Dylan Bohna scored on Garrett Myers’ single to right.
“This was our first time facing (Andino) Vecchiolla,” Allen said. “The nice thing for him today was they jumped out to an early lead. We are in a little bit of a slump here, but we have the opportunity to get on a roll here. We hope we can use our game against Carrick to break out of our slump, but they beat us two years ago in a game we shouldn’t have lost, and they will be ready to play.”
The Mustangs added an unearned run in the second and the Hillers took out starting pitcher Brent Kurtz for Chad Johnson. Laurel Highlands scored three in the third and six in the fourth.
The Mustangs’ Tyler Becker had three hits, two RBIs and one run scored. Teammates Michael Brestensky and Sam Frazee had RBI singles.