Published: June 05, 2009 12:12 am      

North Star no-hit in baseball playoffs

ALTOONA — By CORY ISENBERG

CISENBERG@TRIBDEM.COM

ALTOONA – Mount Union pitcher Brock Goodling wasn’t perfect Thursday against District 5 champion North Star, but almost.

The sophomore right-hander threw a no-hitter with eight strikeouts and two walks as the Trojans sidelined the Cougars 9-0 in their PIAA Class AA quarterfinal baseball game at Vet’s Field.

“Their pitcher threw an awesome game,” North Star first-year coach Chris Evans said. “I don’t know why we couldn’t hit it, we just weren’t picking it up. I have no answer for that one. We had a good week of batting practice, we just couldn’t pick him up.”

Goodling, who threw a perfect game earlier this season, is now 11-1, his lone loss coming in the District 6 title game against Bald Eagle Area.

It looked as though things were going North Star’s way in the top of the first inning.

The Cougars’ lead-off batter Zach Miller reached base on one of Goodling’s walks. Miller was out on a fielder’s choice which allowed Max Strasiser to get on base. Strasiser went to second on a Trojans’ error.

A ground out put Strasiser on third, but Goodling struck out Cory Kaltenbaugh to end the scoring threat.

North Star (15-5) did not have another runner on base until the seventh, when Goodling issued his second walk.

Strasiser, a freshman right hander, scattered eight hits with a strikeout, three walks and a hit batsman.

“Strasiser, even though he was a freshman on the mound, pitched a pretty good game,” Evans said. “We made a couple mistakes early and they capitalized. They played a solid ball game. You take those few early mistakes out – the runs they scored were in the first and second innings – take those away and it’s a different ballgame.”

Mount Union scored five runs in the bottom of the first aided by three hits and two North Star errors.

“The five runs make a big difference,” Mount Union coach Matt Imperioli said. “It was a good start. You get ahead and it makes it easier on the pitcher. It makes him able to throw a lot of strikes. If you can jump out on a team right away in the state playoffs – every team is a little bit nervous and a little on edge – it helps you. Five runs in the first were big.”

The Trojans tacked on three more in the second. Cole Walters was hit by a pitch and came home on a Sean Dixon double to deep center field. Goodling helped his own cause with a blast to left-center field, putting Mount Union up 8-0.

The District runners-up added their final run in the fifth as Brock Imperioli walked and scored on a Garrett Grainey single.

Mount Union (22-1) will take on South Fayette on Monday in the semifinals at a site and time to be determined.

It was North Star’s best run into the state playoffs since 1988.

“I told those guys that they have nothing to be ashamed of,” Evans said. “They should all be proud of where they got this season, especially with three freshmen starting in the playoffs. That’s key for us. The future looks bright, and I thank the seniors for getting us this far.”