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Article Date: May 21

By DAVE SEAMON (Sports Editor)

Published: May 22, 2011 - Hazleton Standard Speaker

Senior co-captains Josh Bayzick and John Medvecky couldn't have written a better script for Hazleton Area's Senior Day on Saturday.

Bayzick pitched five-plus strong innings, even after a second-inning line drive ricocheted off his lower leg, and Medvecky had three base hits, including a long, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth that gave the Cougars a 2-1 victory over visting Holy Redeemer in their regular season finale.

Juniors Evan Vigna and Anthony Zaloga also got in on the celebration with a RBI double and top-notch relief pitching, respectively, as Hazleton Area finished 9-6 in the Wyoming Valley Conference and likely earned the No. 4 seed and an opening round home game in the upcoming District 2 Class AAAA playoffs.

"This was big,'' said Bayzick, who allowed only one run and scattered five hits before giving way to Zaloga with one out in the top of the fifth. "It's nice to go into the playoffs with some momentum, especially after that (five-game) losing streak that we had earlier in the season... and get it rolling again.''

Both teams were happy just to be playing again after last week's rain kept them sidelined for most of the week. And they were even happier to be involved in a competitive, well-pitched game without major mistakes by either side.

"Any tough situation that you can encouter during the season certainly gets you ready for districts because you know you're going to run into tight games come district time,'' Redeemer coach Chris Ritsick said.

Bayzick wiggled out of trouble in the top of the second after Redeemer starter Ted Ritsick walked with one out and Eric Ringsdorf followed with a shot off Bayzick's leg to put runners at first and second.

"It stung for a while, but I didn't really have any major problems,'' Bayzick said. "I actually felt good the rest of the game.''

Hazleton Area's bats, meanwhile, weren't particularly stinging against three Royals pitchers, but the Cougars picked their moments to deliver in the clutch.

George Nikonenko drew a walk leading off the bottom of the second and pinch runner Jared Carelli took second on T.J. Chirico's sacrifice bunt. Ritsick then quickly jumped ahead of Vigna 0-2, but the left-handed batter ripped the next pitch to the right-centerfield gap for a RBI double and a 1-0 Cougar lead.

The Royals (8-6) tried to answer in their next at-bat when Mark Malloy lined a one-out single, stole second and went to third on Steve Ruch's infield single. But Bayzick retired Christian Choman on a fielder's choice grounder to end the threat.

The Cougars' bats, which had been silent since the second, put the heat on Ritsick in the bottom of the fifth by sandwiching two walks around Matt Barletta's single, but Ritsick picked off one baserunner to stall Hazleton Area's momentum and later retired Chirico on an inning-ending groundout.

"Every time we play Hazleton, it's a solid defensive game,'' Chris Ritsick said. "The teams do the right things (defensively) and it's always a well-pitched game by both teams.''

Ruch finally put Redeemer on the scoreboard when he led off the sixth with a towering drive over the fence in left-center for a solo home run. Two batters later, Ritsick singled to end Bayzick's day on the mound.

"Josh threw five great innings,'' Cougars head coach Gino Cara said. "His pitch count got elevated that inning so we decided that it was time. Anthony (Zaloga) came in and did what he's capable of doing and has been doing all year.''

Courtesy runner Mike Kosick eventually made his way around to third, but Zaloga got Dalton "Dutch'' Ell on a comebacker to keep the game tied.

After Malloy was stranded at second in the top of the seventh, Hazleton Area made a bid to end the game in the bottom half against Ruch, who came on for Ted Ritsick in the previous inning.

Medvecky hit his second of two singles and took second after a walk to Chirico. Vigna's infield single loaded the bases, bringing up Bayzick with two outs. Ruch fell behind 3-0, but got the next two pitches over for strikes and then induced the Cougar senior to bounce out.

Zaloga retired the Royals in order in the top of the eighth, setting the stage for Hazleton Area's winning rally.

Sophomore Kyle Klein started things with a double off reliever Will Cavanaugh and held his bag when Redeemer intentionally walked Carl Cara. Tyler Rubasky, who was unable to get a bunt down, then singled to load the bases. Medvecky followed with a long single over the drawn-in outfield to plate Klein with the game-winning run.

"I was just looking to hit the ball to right field or the gap, fly ball, anything really, just get my bat on the ball, and that's what I did,'' Medvecky said.

Medvecky said the close win should give his team a morale boost heading into the district playoffs, which will start with a home game against Delaware Valley some time this week.

"This gives our pitchers' confidence to know they could pitch in a tight game,'' he said. "Hopefully, we can get them some more run support.

"It's nice to have run support, but I like close games,'' Bayzick said. "They make me a little more focused.''

Now, the Cougars can shift their focus to the District 2 playoffs.

"We've been playing very, very good baseball,'' Gino Cara said. "We're still not swinging the bats like I think we're capable of, but we did swing them a little better today, we gutted it out and we pitched very well.''

And picked up a little momentum along the way.

HOLY REDEEMER (1)

Malloy cf 4 0 2 0, Policare 2b 4 0 0 0, Ruch 3b-p 4 1 2 1, Choman 1b 4 0 0 0, Ritsick p 2 0 1 0, Kosik cr 0 0 0 0, Cavanaugh 3b-p 1 0 0 0, Ringsdorf dh 2 0 1 0, Bish pr 0 0 0 0, Dunsmuir ss 0 0 0 0, Tsevdos lf 2 0 0 0, Ell ph 1 0 0 0, Peterlin c 2 0 0 0, English ph 1 0 0 0, Byorick rf 3 0 0 0. Totals 30 1 6 1.

HAZLETON AREA (2)

Cara ss 3 0 0 0, Rubasky c 5 0 1 0, Greco cr 0 0 0 0, Medvecky 3b 4 0 3 1, Barletta cf 4 0 1 0, Nikonenko lf 2 0 1 0, Carelli pr 0 1 0 0, Chirico dh 2 0 0 0, LaRose rf 0 0 0 0, Zaloga p 0 0 0 0, Vigna 1b 2 0 2 1, Seigendall pr 0 0 0 0, Bayzick p-2b 3 0 0 0, Klein 2b-rf 2 1 2 0, Bannon ph 1 0 0 0. Totals 28 2 10 2.

HRHS........ 000 001 00 - 1 6 0

HAHS...... 010 000 01 - 2 10 0

No outs when winning run scored.

LOB: Holy Redeemer 7, Hazleton Area 13. 2B: Nikonenko, Vigna, Klein. HR: Ruch. SB: Malloy 2, Kosik. SAC: Chirico, Bayzick.

Holy Redeemer

IP H R ER BB SO

Ritsick........................... 5.0 4 1 1 7 3

Ruch.............................. 2.0 3 0 0 1 2

Cavanaugh (L) ..........0.0 3 1 1 0 0

Hazleton Area

IP H R ER BB SO

Bayzick......................... 5.1 5 1 1 2 4

Zaloga (W) .................2.2 1 0 0 0 1

Ritsick pitched to 1 batter in the 5th.