NEW CASTLE — The Elk County Catholic baseball team entered postseason play with just six wins.

The Crusaders then rallied to the District 9 Class A championship game, upsetting multiple higher-seeded teams along the way, to clinch a spot in the state playoff bracket. ECC’s improbable run ended in the first round of the PIAA Class A tournament at the hands of District 7 champion Union on Monday, however, in an extra-inning 3-2 loss at Neshannock High School.

Sophomore right-hander Joe Tettis got the start on the mound for the Crusaders, his first pitching appearance since leading ECC to a D9 semifinal win over second-seeded Otto-Eldred on May 27.

ECC gave Tettis a lead before he took the mound, as a leadoff walk drawn by Tommy Slay turned into a run following a steal of second base and a dropped popup by Union.

Union answered in the bottom of the third when Brennan Porter singled home Joe Annarelli, who reached base on a hard-hit ground ball back to Tettis that was ruled a single. Tettis and Union starter Tyler Staub traded zeroes in the fourth before Staub was relieved by Jake Vitale.

Vitale picked up where Staub left off in the fifth, but allowed ECC’s second run in the sixth when Tettis doubled to left field, scoring Jordan DePrator.

As Tettis approached a pitch count of 100 in the bottom half of the sixth, his control began to falter. Vitale and Shane Roper drew walks to bookend a single by Mark Stanley, setting the Scotties up with bases loaded and two outs. Tettis, whose pitch count finished at 92, was relieved by Tommy Slay.

Slay issued a walk to Rocco Galmarini, forcing in the tying run, before escaping further damage. Unfortunately for ECC, Jake Vitale was lights out the rest of the way.

The Crusaders went down in order in their half of the seventh and eighth innings, and while Slay made it through the seventh unscathed, a leadoff walk to Jake Vitale in the bottom of the eighth posed trouble.

Nick Vitale followed with a single, advancing Jake Vitale to third. With no outs and runners on second and third, Stanley hit a ground ball to DePrator, who was positioned at shortstop. DePrator’s throw home to catch Isaac Dellaquilla was late, however, giving Union a walkoff victory and a spot in the PIAA quarterfinals.

Tettis, who struck out five while allowing four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings pitched, went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk. Dominic Zamobini, Mark Kraus and DePrator accounted for the rest of ECC’s offense.

The Scotties’ pitchers did a commendable job of quieting an ECC offense that carried a .283 team batting average into the game. The Crusaders finished their season at 8-14 while Union (11-5) will play the winner of District 5’s Southern Fulton and District 6’s Moshannon Valley in the state quarterfinals.

AT NEW CASTLE

                  R H E

Elk Catholic   100 001 00    2 5 1

Union             001 001 01    3 5 1

Elk Catholic: Joe Tettis (5 SO, 2 BB), Tommy Slay (6) (2 SO, 2 BB) and Isaac Dellaquilla

Union: Tyler Staub (5 SO, 3 BB), Jake Vitale (5) (9 SO, 2 BB) and Nick Vitale

Class AA First Round

Johnsonburg 8, Carmichaels 3

PUNXSUTAWNEY — A four-run third inning proved to be the difference for Johnsonburg (22-0), which kept its perfect season intact and advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals by defeating District 7’s Carmichaels (18-4) at Kuntz Field.

After taking a first-inning lead thanks to an RBI single by Ethan Wells, the Rams found themselves in an unfamiliar position after the third inning: trailing.

An RBI groundout by Gavin Pratt followed an RBI double by Drake Long, giving the Mikes a brief lead. The Rams responded instantly, however, with a four-spot in the bottom half of the inning that was sparked by three-consecutive walks to begin the frame. Camron Marciniak then singled home a run before Kaden Dennis singled home two more, putting the Rams ahead for good.

Gabe Watts, the winning pitcher in Johnsonburg’s D9 title game victory, dazzled over six innings, striking out nine while allowing two walks and three hits. 

Marciniak finished with three hits, three runs scored and two RBI while Dominic Allegretto and Dennis each collected two hits.

Johnsonburg advances to Thursday’s PIAA quarterfinals, where it will battle District 7 champion Shenengo.

AT PUNXSUTAWNEY

                                       R H E

Carmichaels   100 001 00    2 5 1

Johnsonburg      001 001 01    3 5 1

Carmichaels: Gavin Pratt (2 SO, 4 BB), Dylan Rohrer (3) (1 BB), Drake Long (4) (2 BB), Liam Lohr (6) (1 SO) and Stush Ferek

Johnsonburg: Gabe Watts (9 SO, 2 BB), Aiden Zimmerman (7) (1 SO) and Ethan Wells