Boyan bad news for Raiders again
JACKSON TWP — Hunter Boyan seems to have Seneca Valley's number.
Shaler's senior pitcher shut down the Raiders' bats, allowing just one unearned run on five hits in a complete game, 2-1 baseball victory at Raider Field Monday afternoon.
It was not Boyan's first stellar effort against SV.
“Last year, he pitched a complete-game shutout here in a 1-0 win with just 67 pitches,” said Shaler coach Brian Junker. “And he hit a home run to account for the only run. We were hoping he'd have a similar effort on the mound today.”
Boyan completed his latest win in 94 pitches, cooling off a Seneca Valley offense that had scored 33 runs in the team's first four games, all wins.
“We had a lot of success hitting the ball hard against mediocre pitching to start the season,” said SV coach Eric Semega. “We faced a better pitcher today, were up there taking big hacks and never adjusted.
“We have to focus on what we need to do against good pitching. A little self-reflection will be good for our guys.”
The Raiders (4-1) scored their only run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Trailing the Titans, 2-0, Cory Greiner reached on a throwing error to begin the frame. Austin Shirley singled with one out, moving Greiner to third. Shaler center-fielder Justin DeSabato then turned in a huge defensive play to help keep the Titans ahead, making a diving catch of a ball hit by Josh McLean. Greiner scored after tagging from third base, but Shirley was forced to remain at first.
Boyan escaped the inning with no further damage and stranded the tying run at first base in the seventh to end the game.
Boyan struck out five and walked just one in the win. He kept the Raiders off the board in the bottom of the fourth following consecutive one-out singles from Matt Stanger and McLean.
“We've played Seneca Valley for years and they like to swing at fastballs on the first pitch,” said Junker. “Hunter did a great job of throwing his off-speed stuff for strikes in the first pitch of at-bats. It was working early and we just stayed with it.”
While Shaler (3-2) never had a big inning on offense, they succeeded in making SV starter Jon McCullough grind his way through four innings.
After retiring Shaler in order in the top of the first inning, McCullough needed 54 pitches to get through the next three frames. He allowed single tallies in the second and third innings. Colin Harger's single plated Nick Rispoli with the first run, followed by Boyan's base hit that scored Aidan Williams.
McCullough, a junior, was pulled after stranding a runner at second base in the fourth frame. He struck out two, walked one and allowed the two runs on six hits.
“This was not Jon's best effort,” said Semega. “He didn't spot the ball well and gave up several hits on 0-2 counts.”
Senior Michael Morrone pitched three scoreless innings in relief, stranding the bases loaded in the fifth. He struck out one and walked one.
SV has one non-section game remaining — at home Wednesday against Latrobe — before diving into section play.
“This was a good learning experience for us,” said Semega.
Shaler 011 000 0 — 2 9 1
Seneca Valley 000 001 0 — 1 5 1
W: Hunter Boyan 7 IP (5K, 1BB). L: Jon McCullough 4 IP (2K, 1BB).
Shaler (3-2): Justin DeSabato 1B, Aidan Williams 2B R, Hunter Boyan 3-1B RBI, Nick Rispoli 1B 2B R, Jake Bredl 2B, Colin Harger 1B RBI
Seneca Valley (4-1): Cameron Vozel 1B, Matt Stanger 1B, Josh McLean 1B RBI, Gabe Lawson 1B, Austin Shirley 1B
Wednesday: Latrobe at Seneca Valley
