Top Butler singles take doubles title

April 25, 2008 Last Updated: April 25, 2008 12:47 PM High School

Winning pitcher Dakota Campbell struck out five West Forest batters Thursday in Moniteau's 14-1 victory, the Warriors' first of the season.

Matt Slamecka and Evan Kowalski are the No. 1 and No. 2 singles players for the Butler High boys tennis team.

But on Thursday, they teamed up to win a title.

The sophomores won three matches to claim the WPIAL Section 2-AAA doubles championship at North Allegheny.

The title match saw Slamecka and Kowalski defeat the defending section champion duo, NA's Matt Smith and Matt Kosovec, by scores of 6-2, 6-4.

"Both Smith and Kosovec have good serves," said Butler coach Dave Hartzell. "Basically, I thought that Matt (Slamecka) and Evan both returned serve very well. I think that turned the match in their favor."

At the recent Section 2 singles tournament, Slamecka finished second and Kowalski third.

Slamecka teamed up with Stefan Kemp last year and the tandem placed third at the section doubles tournament.

Both Slamecka and Kowalski have played doubles in U.S. Tennis Association junior events.

Slamecka and Kowalski received a first-round bye Thursday before downing a team from North Hills, 10-4 in a pro set format.

The semifinals saw the duo defeat Sam Gill and Nick Dulac of North Allegheny 6-2, 6-2.

Slamecka and Kowalski will now turn their attention to the WPIAL doubles tournament, which will be held next Thursday at a time and site to be determined.

Justine Rich walked, stole second and third and scored the winning run on a throwing error with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning as Knoch outlasted Highlands 5-4.Amanda Sheppeck picked up the win, striking out five in eight innings. Knoch's No. 1 pitcher, Chelsea Martin, is out for at least six weeks after a line drive broke her right wrist Saturday atEllwood City.With the win, the Knights clinched at least a tie for the section title.In other games:• Karra White had two hits and two RBI and Jenna Geibel doubled and singled as Butler downed Fox Chapel 9-5.The Golden Tornado (5-8, 3-6) erupted for seven runs in the fourth inning.• Samantha Ryan tallied Karns City's only two hits as the Gremlins' offense was shut down by Clarion-Limestone pitcher Krista Fuller, who struck out 17 batters.• Karly Kaufman struck out nine and gave up two earned runs in seven innings, but five A-C Valley errors cost the Falcons in a 6-2 loss to Cranberry.Kaylin Strauser tripled, singled and drove in a run for A-C Valley (4-6).• Jaryn Beatty tallied three RBI in Moniteau's 9-8 win over West Forest.Highlands 000 121 00—4 6 3Knoch 020 011 01—5 6 7Two outs when winning run scoredW: Amanda Sheppeck 8 IP (5 K, 2 BB). L: Sid Gabriel 72/3 IP (6 K, 2 BB).Highlands (2-10): Brit Cassoni HR, 1B; Amanda Kladaiski 2BKnoch (12-2, 11-1): Kirsten Brant 3B, 1BToday: Knoch at ButlerButler 101 700 0—9 12 2Fox Chapel 300 000 2—5 9 2W: Stacy Reges 7 IP (3 K, 1 BB). L: Chelsea Dabrowski 7 IP (2 K, 0 BB).Butler (5-8, 3-6): Jenna Geibel 2B, 2-1B; Karra White 2-1B, 2-RBI; Olivia Vasey 2-1BFox Chapel: Dabrowski 1B, 2B; Alicia Haley 2-1BToday: Knoch at ButlerKarns City 000 000 0—0 2 2C-Limestone 002 000 x—2 3 0W: Krista Fuller 7IP (17 K, 1 BB). L: Brandi Dunkle 6IP (4 K, 2 BB).Karns City (5-3, 5-0): Samantha Ryan 2-1BClarion-Limestone: Bennet 1B 3BSaturday: St. Joseph at Karns CityCranberry 001 002 3—6 8 0A-C Valley 000 101 0—2 8 5W: Brannon 1 IP (2 K, 2 BB). L: Karly Kaufman 7 IP (9 K, 2 BB).Cranberry: Brannon 2-1B, 3BA-C Valley (4-6): Kaylin Strauser 2-1B, RBI; Erin Larimore RBI; Meghan Cratty 2B, 1BWednesday: Clarion-Limestone at A-CValleyWest Forest 050 021 0—8 5 5Moniteau 000 450 x—9 12 5W: Ashley Lominski 52/3 IP (8 K, 8 BB). L: Lorenz 7 IP (3 K, 2 BB).West Forest: Sneeringer 2-1B, 2-RMoniteau (7-1, 5-1): Jaryn Beatty 1B, 3B, 2-R, 3-RBI; Ashley Pisor 2-1B; Amber Neff 2B, 1B; Sarah Diddig 1B, R, 2-RBIToday: Moniteau at Laurel

A.J. Ethriedge struck out nine batters in a complete-game performance and had two singles, a triple and two RBI as Union defeated North Clarion, 9-3.In other games:• Knoch received three hits from John DeWalt and two apiece from Dave Govan and Andrew Wirtz in an 8-7 win over Ambridge.• Stephon Conto doubled home Cody Zabicki with the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead Karns City (5-4, 4-3) to a 7-6 triumph over Clarion.• Zane Slater singled twice and tripled to lead Moniteau to its first win of the season with a 14-1 thumping of West Forest.The Warriors (1-8, 1-6) scored nine runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.North Clarion 100 000 2—3 5 4Union 205 200 x—9 9 2W: A.J. Ethriedge 7IP (9 K, 2 BB). L: Ochs 4IP (7 K, 3 BB).North Clarion: Wielock 1B 2 RBIUnion (6-3): A.J. Ethriedge 2-1B 3B 2 RBIMonday: Union at Karns CityKnoch 250 010 0—8 10 0Ambridge 106 000 0—7 9 3W: Cullen Hinderliter 4⅓IP (6 K, 1 BB). L: Collins 5IP (3 K, 1 BB).Knoch (6-5, 4-4): John DeWalt 3-1B, Andrew Wirtz 2-1B, Dave Govan 2-1BAmbridge: Kongerski 2B 3 RBIToday: Knoch at ValleyClarion 000 212 1—6 8 1Karns City 000 410 2—7 11 5Two out when winning run scoredW: Dan Everetts 2 IP (2 K, 0 BB). L: Kemmer 62/3 IP (10 K, 4 BB).Clarion: Kemmer HR; Gridja HRKarns City (5-4, 4-3): Brett Green 2-1B; Joe King 2-1B; Cody Zabicki 1B, 2B; Stephon Conto 1B, 2B, 3-RBIToday: Karns City at West ShamokinWestForest 001 00x x— 1 3 4Moniteau 302 9xx x—14 13 1W: Dakota Campbell 4 IP (5 K, 1 BB). L: Hitchcock 3⅓ IP (1 K, 4 BB).West Forest: Bemis 1B, RBIMoniteau (1-8, 1-6): Zane Slater 2-1b, 3B; Dakota Campbell 2-1B; Tony Campbell 2-1B; Zach Wheeler 2-1B; Josh Loos 1B, 2B; Shane Carr 2-1BToday: Moniteau at Neshannock

Sara Schweiger scored six goals to lead Butler to a 12-10 win over Bethel Park.Liz Manuel and Chelsea Rock each added two more goals for the Golden Tornado (3-6), who will travel toShaler on Tuesday.Fox Chapel 13, Knoch 2 — Jess Protzman and Paige Macadeag each scored goals for the Knights, who will host Vincentian Academy Tuesday.

Luke Lombardo had 15 assists, but Butler dropped a 25-20, 25-21, 25-13 decision to North Allegheny.Andrew Willison added nine kills for the Golden Tornado (5-5, 3-4).