Title Shot
DUBOIS — Jared Lominski doesn't know what type of pitch he hit in the top of the seventh inning of Tuesday's District 9 Class AA baseball title game, but he will never forget where it ended up.
Moniteau's senior catcher clubbed an offering from Coudersport's Kolby VanWhy over the 333-foot sign in center field for a solo home run that put the Warriors ahead to stay in a 5-4 victory at Showers Field.
“I can't say what the pitch was, but it was to the outside and that's where I took it,” said the left-handed hitter, who now has four home runs this season.
Coudersport (15-4) got the tying run on base in the bottom of the inning when, with two outs, VanWhy drew the only walk allowed in the game by Moniteau's Hunter Fitzingo. But the latter struck out Eli Ayers and the Warriors celebrated back-to-back titles and their third district crown in four years.
Moniteau (17-5) had to climb out of a 4-0 hole after two innings.
“Going down 4-0, it wasn't ideal,” said Moniteau coach Ross Martin, “but we responded well. Baseball's a fun game.”
The fun started for the Warriors in the top of the third inning. After being blanked in the first two frames by Coudersport starter Blake Burgett, Moniteau loaded the bases when Lee DeMatteis walked, Fitzingo reached on an error and Chance Nagy on an infield single.
That brought junior Gage Neal to the plate and he drilled an RBI-double to left. The hit was just feet from being a home run and a second run scored on a throwing error at the end of the play.
Lominski's groundout plated a third run and Neal scored on a wild pitch to tie the score.
“The first couple of innings, he (Burgett) was throwing some knuckleballs and off-speed stuff that we're not used to seeing,” said Neal, whose double in the fourth chased Burgett. “I hit that double and things began to come around for us.”
The four-run outburst was one key to this title win. Another was the rebound made by Fitzingo.
The senior walked off the mound after the bottom of the first on the wrong end of a 3-0 score. Four straight batters reached base on a hit in the frame, including a two-run triple by Kullen Crosby.
VanWhy doubled in a fourth run in the second inning.
“I told Hunter before the game that positivity was going to get him through today,” said Lominski. “He wasn't fully comfortable at the start, but he came back and got the job done.”
Fitzingo blanked the Falcons over the final five innings, allowing just two more hits in the process. He finished the game with 10 strikeouts and one walk.
Aside from Coudersport's lineup, he had to deal with four delays in action due to lightning and rain.
“I stayed loose by putting two sweatshirts on (in the dugout) and worked my arm out with the stretch bands,” said Fitzingo. “Coudersport was putting the bat on the ball early in the game. They're a good team.”
VanWhy relieved Burgett with one out in the top of the fourth and stranded Moniteau runners at second and third. The only hit he allowed in his 3 2/3 innings was Lominski's blast.
Moniteau will next play Monday in the first round of the state playoffs against the loser of Wednesday's WPIAL title game between Seton LaSalle and Serra Catholic.
Moniteau 004 000 1 — 5 6 0
Coudersport 310 000 0 — 4 7 4
W: Hunter Fitzingo 7IP (10K, 1BB). L: Kolby VanWhy 3.2P (4K, 0BB).
Moniteau (17-5): Chance Nagy 1B R, Gage Neal 2-2B R RBI, Jared Lominski HR 2-RBI, Tyler McFadden 1B, Nathan Tack 1B
Coudersport (15-4): Kolby VanWhy 2-1B 2B R RBI, Eli Ayers 1B R, Kullen Crosby 3B R 2-RBI, Jackson Glover 1B RBI, Hunter Redmond 1B
Monday: Moniteau vs./ Seton LaSalle/Serra Catholic loser, PIAA Class 2A playoffs, TBD
