EF’s Herchelroath deals Leopards first loss

The senior southpaw tossed a three-hit shutout as the Warriors beat their rivals to the south 7-0.

In an important Section 2-4A matchup between Belle Vernon and Elizabeth Forward featuring two star-studded pitchers, it was EF’s Cy Herchelroath that stole the show with a gem to help claim a 7-0 win over the Leopards.

The Warriors’ (7-2, 4-1) ace went the full game and gave up only three hits, two of which came with two outs in the seventh, while walking one batter and striking out eight.

“Cy was tremendous for us again,” Elizabeth Forward coach Frank Champ said. “He’s been absolutely lights out for us all year. His composure, how he’s attacking each batter, he’s working ahead, using all his pitches, and it’s just tremendous. He gave up a few hits there in the last inning and still dominated.

“He’s had a lot of attention and people coming out to watch him pitch from all over, and he’s kept his composure for every single one of them, which isn’t easy to do. I couldn’t be more proud of him for this start and how he’s been pitching this year.”

Elizabeth Forward’s defense behind Herchelroath was sharp as well, making the majority of the plays it could on groundballs. Offensively, the Warriors had a solid day, but an uncharacteristic performance from Belle Vernon’s (81, 6-1) defense benefitted them as well.

The Leopards committed six errors as their ace Parker Lind only allowed three hits.

“Without question, that was the best pitching that we saw all year,” BVA coach Tony Watson said. “We shot ourselves in the foot defensively and we didn’t have good approaches at the plate today. There’s a quick turnaround tomorrow, and we’ll try and even up the series with a better performance.”

Lind was credited with the loss after going four innings and giving up three hits and five runs (three earned), walking six and striking out five. Offensively, Alonzo Wade earned two of the three BVA hits while Connor Bergman claimed the other. For Elizabeth Forward, JB Crovak hit 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Charlie Nigut, AJ Grese and Jacob Peterson each went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Nigut scored three runs to lead the Warriors.

Belle Vernon may have come in undefeated, but it was EF that came out firing on its home field from the very beginning.

Herchelroath blew through the Leopards with a walk and three strikeouts before his Warriors plated two runs in the home half of the first.

Nigut drew a walk and stole second before Lind struck out Crovak. Grese then stepped up and roped an RBI single to left field, making it 1-0 before Peterson doubled to score Grese and bring the score to 2-0 after one.

Belle Vernon was retired 1-2-3 in the top of the second as the Warriors managed two more runs on offense. Daniel Spence and Mitch Vuick each earned a free pass and then scored courtesy of a fielder’s choice from Nigut and a single from Crovak. Elizabeth Forward stranded two runners when Herchelroath grounded out to move things to the third inning.

He continued to excel on the mound, taking his no-hitter through three frames as he again allowed no baserunners for Belle Vernon. Both pitchers silenced the opposition in the fourth with no one reaching base for either team, but the Warriors again managed to plate a run in the fifth after BVA broke up Herchelroath’s no-no.

Wade earned the first of three hits for Belle Vernon in the top of the fifth when he singled, but it was no use as a fielder’s choice and a pickoff made quick work of the visitors.

In the home half of the fifth, Belle Vernon’s defensive struggles led to a run from EF courtesy runner Jacob Williams. Herchelroath drew a walk and was replaced on the basepaths by Williams, who was able to make it to second on a wild pitch and then round third and get home on two errors from the Leopards. That brought the score to 5-0 after five.

Herchelroath sat Belle Vernon down 1-2-3 again in the sixth before his offense got to work with two more insurance runs.

After an inning-opening out, Vuick walked again and stole second before a double from Nigut scored him to make it 6-0. Then, Crovak doubled to bring Nigut home and conclude the scoring at 7-0 in favor of EF.

Lind reached on catcher’s interference with one out in the top of the seventh as he tried to lead the rally, but a fielder’s choice gave the Leopards one final chance. Then, Belle Vernon tripled its hit total as Bergman singled and Wade singled to load the bases, but one last strikeout from Herchelroath did the job and ended the game.

The teams will finish their season series at Belle Vernon today. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.