Sierocky leads Latrobe Legion to win in state tournament opener

It was a perfect start for the Latrobe American Legion baseball team during the opening of the state tournament

Winning pitcher Haden Sierocky, who struck out 13, helped his own cause with a two-run single and a key sacrifice bunt, and host Latrobe defeated Wesleyville, 7-1, at Rosa-Oglietti Park.

The Jethawks will play Paxton in a winners’ bracket game at 7 p.m. today.

“It was a good all-around victory,” Latrobe coach Zach Bush said. “Haden was a big part of it, but so was everyone else. We told them before regionals that everyone had to contribute.

“Haden did a great job mixing his pitches. He attacked the strike zone.”

Wesleyville took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a single by Tyler Burick.

Latrobe tied the score in the fourth inning when Colin Bush, who reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on a two-out single by Leo Bazala.

“I did pretty well,” Sierocky said. “I was pleased how the team responded and the atmosphere. It was a great home crowd. I attended some Seton Hill games this past season, and the atmosphere was electric. It was electric (today).”

Latrobe took the lead for good in the fifth inning without the aid of a hit.

Cooper Basciano walked to open the inning, and Lou Amatucci was hit with a pitch.

Sierocky laid down a sacrifice bunt that Wesleyville pitcher Jake Manendo threw wildly, allowing Basciano to score. Sierocky then got caught in a rundown, which allowed Amatucci to score.

In the sixth inning, Sierocky singled home a pair, and Jack Stynchula had a two-run single in the seventh.

“Their pitcher was pretty good,” Bush said. “We had some good at-bats against him, and we started timing him better the second time around. Haden was just a bulldog all game.”

Wesleyville will face Beech Creek in a losers’ bracket game at 1 p.m.

In other action:

Charleroi 10, Falls (Levittown) 0 — Colton Brightwell drove in five runs and Ben Shields three to lead Region 6 champion Charleroi to a five-inning win.

Charleroi pitching trio of Ashton Ray, Shields and Lorenzo Glasser scattered three hits.

Brightwell had three hits, including a home run. Hunter Mamie had two hits, including a home run, and Chad Behrendt and Shields had two hits each. Charleroi pounded out 12 hits.

Charleroi will face Quakertown at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Falls will play Greater Pittston at 10 a.m.

Quakertown 4, Greater Pittston 0 — Caleb Everitt had the only hit, a two-run single in the sixth inning, for Quakertown in its opening-day victory.

Vincent Pellegrini bested Hunter Lawall in a classic pitchers’ duel.

Pellegrini allowed three hits, walked four and struck out seven. Lawall walked four and struck out nine. He hit five players with pitches.

Paxton (Harrisburg Post 730) 11, Beech Creek 5 — Brady Park drove in three runs and collected three hits to lead Paxton to a Day 1 victory.

Nick Keane had three hits for Paxton, and Alex Yarrish and Bubba Dorns had two hits each. Yarrish hit a double.

Gabe Johnson hit a three-run homer and Connor Foltz a two-run homer for Beech Creek.

Winning pitcher Cole Greedy blanked Beech Creek over the final four innings.

Paxton broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning.