Published: June 08, 2009 09:43 am      

PIAA baseball semifinals: Crushers expecting tough test

Bishop McCort won’t have to face Serra Catholic’s top pitcher when the teams meet today, but runs still might be hard to come by for the Crimson Crushers.

Serra Catholic (22-2), the District 7 champion, has given up just eight runs in six playoff games. That means District 6 champ Bishop McCort (19-4) will probably have its hands full in the PIAA Class A baseball semifinal today, even if Serra’s ace, Oliver Girman, isn’t eligible to pitch.

“We know they can hit the ball,” said Bishop McCort coach Denny Altimore, who watched the Eagles beat Clarion 5-1 on Friday. “We know they can field the ball. When you’re at this stage, everybody is good. They’re 22-2 coming out of the WPIAL. They can do something right.”

Mostly, the Eagles prevent teams from scoring. They have nine shutouts this season and have held each of their past three opponents to one run.

“Our pitching and defense have been our strengths all season,” said Serra Catholic coach Brian Dzurenda, who expects freshman Alain Girman or sophomore Chris Miller to take the mound against Bishop McCort when the game begins at 4 p.m. today in Homer City.

“One of those two will probably start,” Dzurenda said.

“We’ve pitched by committee most of the year. I can guarantee you’ll see at least three pitchers (today).”

Dzurenda said Brandon Sandusky – the team’s lone senior

– and junior Corey Sandusky are also available to pitch.

“We have a 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D,” Dzurenda said. “They all throw in the mid 80s, they all throw strikes. They’ve all gotten innings. It’s just a matter of who you start, who do you want in relief and who do you want to close it if it’s a close game?”

Because Serra Catholic has only given up 49 runs this season – and 10 of those came in an early season loss to Seton-LaSalle – its offense can get overlooked at times. But the Eagles also averaged 12.4 runs per game.

“We have some offensive firepower,” Dzurenda said. “I think we’ve hit 16 or 17 home runs. We have seven guys that have at least one home run.”

The Eagles, like the Crimson Crushers, also like to create havoc on the basepaths.

“We’re a team that likes to push the envelope,” Dzurenda said.

“We’ve done that all year. We feel if we can put the pressure on offensively, most teams in Class A – most I’ll stress – will crack and allow some runs that they might not otherwise.”

Dzurenda, who has seen Bishop McCort play three times already this season, knows that getting the running game going against Crushers catcher Zach Vignero is no easy task.

“I think their catcher is outstanding,” Dzurenda said. “(He) blocks the ball very well, and he has a quick release.”

Dzurenda will most likely see the same pitcher who has started each of the Crushers’ past three playoff games: Brandon Ferre (5-1, 2.31 ERA).

The junior pitched 61/3 innings in a victory over Neshannock on Thursday, but Altimore expects the right-hander to be ready to go again today. The Crushers should also have the luxury of having junior Sean Lenhart (5-1, 1.93) back in the bullpen again after missing the Neshannock game with a sore arm.

“They’re big strong, husky, powerful kids,” Altimore said.

“We rely on them. They pitch the big games for us.”

Colin Harrington (6-2, 3.80) and Vignero (1-0, 0.62) are also available if needed, but Harrington, a Virginia recruit, is so valuable at shortstop that Altimore likes to keep him there if possible. Of course, the Bishop McCort manager also knows that there isn’t any use in saving pitching for a state title appearance that might never happen.

“In order to win the big one, you have to get to it,” Altimore said. “We’ll throw the kitchen sink and do whatever we have to do.”

Eric Lowry leads Bishop McCort with a .449 average and 26 RBIs. Harrington is hitting .433 with three home runs. Vignero has a .413 average and 17 RBIs.

Altimore is hoping that the Crimson Crushers’ difficult road to the semifinals

– they’ve won their past three games in their final at-bat – has prepared them for this moment.

“We’ve been in some wars, and we’ve been able to look adversity in the face and come out on top,” he said.

Dzurenda isn’t expecting this one to be any easier.

“It will be a tough game,” he said. “At this point, it’s pretty much a coin flip.”





Today’s game



What: PIAA Class A baseball semifinal between Bishop McCort (19-4) and Serra Catholic (22-2).



When: 4 p.m. today.



Where: First Commonwealth Field, Homer City.



Radio: WNTJ 1490 AM and WNTW 990 AM.



Online: Updates available on www.twitter.com via eric_knopsnyder and crushersports.