JACKSON TWP - It's just one game.

That's what members of the Seneca Valley baseball team are reminding themselves after being on the losing end of a 13-0, five-inning shutout to North Allegheny, in the Section 1-AAAA opener for both teams Wednesday at Raider Field.

"One game is not going to make or break us," said Seneca Valley coach Eric Semega. "That 13-0 score, the gap is not that big between the talent on both of these teams."

Leading 4-0 after three innings, the Tigers (4-0, 1-0) added nine runs over the next two innings to account for the shortened game.

North Allegheny coach Tim Banner decided to start senior Tim Merolillo on the mound.

Though Merolillo has been a key contributor for the Tigers over the last few years, he had never pitched in a game - until Wednesday.

He responded by giving up just two hits and two walks while striking out two in a complete-game performance.

"We had thought about putting him out there (to pitch) before," said Banner. "But he played such a good left field for us, we just kept him there until today."

"I was definitely a bit nervous, being that I had never pitched before," said Merolillo.

The weight on the southpaw's shoulders was lightened by an odd sequence of events in the Tigers' first at-bat.

SV pitcher John Sklarsky hit the first three North Allegheny batters who came to the plate, loading the bases before Mike Juliano and Pat Trettel struck out.

With two outs, Harry Austin tripled to right, scoring Blake Jurena, Merolillo and John Quimby before a throwing error allowed Austin to score to make it 4-0.

That was the lead Merolillo had to work with when he took the mound in the bottom of the first inning.

"It felt good having that lead," said Merolillo. "I knew we had a good defense and they would be making good plays behind me."

Seneca Valley got singles from Mike Eonta in the third inning and Derek Andrekovich in the fourth for the only two hits for the Raiders (2-3, 0-1).

Zach Duggan, who reached on a walk in the third inning ahead of Eonta, was thrown out at the plate on the latter's base hit.

The seven runs the Tigers scored in the fourth were charged to Sklarsky, who shouldered the loss after four innings of work. He was relieved by Nick Hull.

Of the 12 batters Sklarsky retired, eight of them were by strikeout. He walked three along with nine hits allowed.

"I think John pitched well today," said Semega. "It was uncharacteristic for him to hit three batters like he did in the first inning. … But with the way things went, he could've given up very easily. He kept battling, that's just the type of kid he is."

No. Allegheny 400 72x x -13 11 2

Seneca Valley 000 00x x - 0 2 2

WP:

Tim Merolillo (5 IP) 2 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP:

John Sklarsky (4 IP) 8 strikeouts, 3 walks

North Allegheny (4-0, 1-0):

Blake Jurena 1B 2R, Pat Trettel 1B 2B 2RBI, Harry Austin 2B 3B R 3RBI SB, Mike Niggel 2-1B R 2RBI, Dave Bergstrom 1B 2B R 2RBI

Seneca Valley (2-3, 0-1):

Mike Eonta 1B, Derek Andrekovich 1B

Friday:

Seneca Valley @ Kiski Area; Shaler @ North Allegheny