June 8, 2012 7:00 a.m. WEXFORD —
North Star sophomore pitcher Shane Supanick held Saegertown to one hit over seven innings, cutting the Panthers’ quest for a state title two rounds short as the District 5 champion Cougars edged the locals 2-0 during the quarterfinal round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs, Thursday at North Allegheny High School.
“We just didn’t hit today,” said Panthers head coach Tim Crum, whose team’s season ends with a District 10 championship and a record of 23-2.
“One hit, that’s very uncharacteristic of our team,” he added. “What a time for the bats to be cold. Everything was right at somebody. Offensively, we just couldn’t get anything going. We just needed a spark. We couldn’t get that guy on base to get things rolling. And when we did, it seemed like we had two outs.”
The Panthers’ lone hit came in the top of the fourth by their lone senior on the roster, Ryan Paden. That hit put two runners on with one out, but the Cats failed to bring those runners home.
Meanwhile, North Star (19-4) tallied seven base hits off Saegertown starter Luke Carter.
“The pitchers both pitched a nice game on both sides. The defenses did their job. But you’ve got to score runs to win ball games,” said Crum.
North Star logged the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Center fielder Tony Strasiser led the inning off with a double down the left field line. Supanick put Strasiser on third with a sacrifice bunt. And left fielder Cody Bloom brought Strasiser home with an RBI groundout to short.
With a 1-0 lead, Supanick continued on cruise control, retiring the five out of next six batters through two innings.
“He has done that all season for us,” North Star head coach Christopher Evans said. “He always wants the ball in his hand and does not act like he is only a sophomore on the mound.”
The Panthers found themselves in trouble again in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, North Star’s No. 9 hitter Josh Bloom hit a slow chopper to deep short and then advanced to second base on a throwing error. Then lead-off hitter Tanner Revak laced a single to right field, putting runners on the corners.
The Panthers picked off Revak as he tried to get caught in a rundown to allow the runner from third to score. But the Cats got the out and kept the runner at third and looked to get out of the inning with no damage done.
North Star had other plans. Shortstop Brantley Rice delivered a two-out RBI double to left, adding a cushion to their slim lead.
Trailing 2-0 entering the seventh, the Panthers had one more chance to keep their season afloat.
The inning began with hope as Carter reached first base on an error by North Star’s third basemen Zach Maluchnik. However, the next three batters went in order, bringing the Panthers’ season to an end.
Carter was the tough-luck loser, going six innings while allowing two runs on seven hits. He also struck out four, walked one and hit two batters.
Carter’s counterpart had a game to remember. The lefty Supanick pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only one hit, while striking out four and walking four.
“That was the third lefty we’d faced in a row, and we felt pretty comfortable with it,” said Crum. “We got it done two other times. It shouldn’t be any different. He wasn’t their No. 1. He threw about 80 or so, decent slider; nothing we shouldn’t have had trouble hitting.
“It’s who makes fewer mistakes, and our mistakes were at the plate,” Crum added. “We just didn’t get the job done at the plate. Everything else went O.K. We just had one hit. It’s just unbelievable. I’m still shaking my head about that. How is that possible?”
North Star now moves on to the state semifinals to face Riverside, which defeated South Fayette yesterday, 5-4.
“The kids had a great year,” Crum said. “They did a fantastic job, every one of them. I’m just disappointed it had to end today, as I’m sure everyone is on the team and in the community. We had higher expectations.”
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