PIAA baseball: Moniteau’s return to states ends in Class 2A first round vs Southern Columbia
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — The start of the PIAA baseball playoffs Monday saw teams throughout the state looking to extend their season just days after winning a district title.
Moniteau was one of them, but the Warriors’ stay in the Class 2A bracket proved frustratingly short.
The District 9 champions fell behind early and, though not overmatched by Southern Columbia pitcher Caden Hopper, managed just a single run against him in a 10-1, season-ending loss at Slippery Rock University’s Critchfield Park.
Moniteau ace Dawson Cook allowed a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning and lasted one out into the fifth. He struck out three, walked three and gave up six runs (three earned) on six hits.
“We knew Southern Columbia (runner-up in District 4) was a very good hitting team coming in, had one kid hitting in the high .500s, two more in the high .400s and another in the high .300s,” Moniteau coach Garrick Lapusnak said. “Against a team like that, a couple of errors can get a pitcher down.”
Moniteau (13-9) cut the Tigers’ lead in half in the bottom of the first inning. An error, Southern Columbia’s lone miscue in the game, allowed leadoff hitter Ian Ross to reach base, and he ended up scoring on Cook’s base hit.
The Warriors tallied two hits in the frame, but they managed just two more over the final six innings.
Hopper worked a complete game, striking out five and walking none. Moniteau’s lineup consistently squared his pitches up, but long fly balls and line drives turned into outs just the same.
“We found the gaps a few times, didn’t most of the game, but we hit the ball well,” said Moniteau senior outfielder Blaine Jamison, who doubled with one out in the bottom of the fifth before being stranded at third by Hopper. It was the Warriors’ fourth and final hit of the game.
“Caden worked both sides of the plate and let his defense make plays behind him,” Tigers coach Mike Myers said.
“Their guy’s a good pitcher,” Lapusnak said of Hopper. “We competed at the plate, but it’s baseball and sometimes things just don’t go your way.”
Ayden Hockenbrock’s RBI double in the third, followed by Andrew Novak’s RBI single in the same frame, helped Southern Columbia (16-4) build a 5-1 lead.
Cook left the mound in favor of Kayne Scott in the fifth, and the Tigers, aided by two more errors, plated four runs off of him in the sixth.
Kole Myers, the Tigers’ No. 3 hitter, had three hits, including a double and triple, and scored four runs.
The Warriors won a district title in Lapusnak’s first season leading the team.
“There was some apprehension on my part, coming in as a first-year coach,” he said. “But we received some great leadership from the seniors. Winning the District 9 title this year is something I’ll never forget. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from this team.”
Southern Columbia, which qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in 20 years, will face District 11 champion Marian Catholic, an 11-1 winner over Wyoming Seminary, in Thursday’s quarterfinal round.
Southern Columbia 212 014 0 — 10 12 1
Moniteau 100 000 0 — 1 4 4
WP: Caden Hopper 7 IP (5K, 0 BB). LP: Dawson Cook 4.1 IP (3K, 3BB).
Southern Columbia: Kole Myers 1B 2B 3B 4R 2RBI, Ayden Hockenbrock 1B 2B R 2RBI, Ethan Makowski 2B 2R, Kaden Zachman 2-1B R, Gavin Richards 2-1B
Moniteau: Dawson Cook 2-1B RBI, Weston Cook 1B, Blaine Jamison 2B
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Moniteau's Connor Andre (22) shows his disappointment after losing 10-1 to Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau players hug after losing 10-1 to Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau's Dawson Cook (4) crouches and stares at the ground after losing 10-1 to Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau's Carson Minnear (12) gets emotional after losing 10-1 to Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle.
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Moniteau's Dawson Cook (4) rubs his face in disappointment after losing 10-1 to Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau's Carson Minnear (12) tags out and collides with Southern Columbia's Andrew Yost (18) in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Kameron Hershey (21) tags out Southern Columbia Andrew Yost (18) in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Dawson Cook (4) throws a pitch to Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Dawson Cook and teammates take the field against Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Carson Minnear (12) slides safely into home plate against Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Dawson Cook (4) shows his excitement after a good inning against Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Aidan Mclean (00) gives Carson Minnear the cone after scoring a run against Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Aidan Shakley (14) throws the ball in after a Southern Columbia batter hit the wall in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Ian Ross (1) tags out at second base Southern Columbia Caden Hopper (2) in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Ian Ross (1) gets looked by the trainer after hurting his leg against Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Kayne Scott 6) delivers a pitch to Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Ian Ross (1) gets hit by the ball against Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Dawson Cook (4) goes flying after tagging out Southern Columbia Cole Myers (1) in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Kameron Hershey (21) tries to bring the ball in against Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Moniteau Dawson Cook (4) puts his glove over his face in disappointment after he gets moved from the mound against Southern Columbia in a PIAA Class 2A first-round baseball game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
