Remember when?: Cramer pitches BVA into state playoffs

By The Valley Independent
YOUNGWOOD – Don’t put away those Belle Vernon Area bats and helmets just yet. The Leps are going to the state playoffs.
BVA picked up the third WPIAL Class AA berth into the PIAA tournament by shutting out Shady Side Academy, 4-0, in the AA consolation game at Youngwood.
The Leps (18-5) used the strong arm of Jesse Cramer, making a rare pitching performance, who fired a six-hitter with six strikeouts and no walks.
The rare start on the mound was the first for Cramer in nearly a month. His last start came on May 4 against Yough.
“With him being my catcher and lead-off hitter, those are two big areas of responsibility,” said BVA coach Jim Russell. “He has always been a pitcher on my staff, but I’ve got other pitchers, too. Jesse’s a great pitcher, but he’s also a great catcher.
“Jesse was awesome. He was unbeatable out there,” said Russell.
The shutout loss was the first this season for SSA.
The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when BVA got all the runs it needed, scoring twice. Cramer led off with a walk and stole second. Ryan Williams then gave the Leps a 1-0 lead when he doubled Cramer home. Williams later scored on a passed ball.
The winners tacked on insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Williams doubled and scored on a passed ball for the second time in the game. In the seventh, Nick Solan, who had two of BVA’s six hits, singled and later scored on a single by Scott McClintock.
“That was the run I was looking for at the end,” smiled Russell.
The Leps got a huge defensive play in the sixth inning that preserved the shutout. SSA had a runner on third and no outs when the batter popped up behind first base. Leps first baseman Ryan Russell ran back and made the catch while falling down. The runner tagged and tried to score but Russell fired home and catcher Williams put the tag down for an improbable double play.
“That was a huge play. That sunk their ship,” said Russell.
The Leps are faced with a big dilemma in the state playoffs. They’re slated for Monday, but that is BVA’s graduation day.
“I don’t know what we’ll do if we have to play Monday,” Russell said. “I just hope we have enough players. At least we’re still in it.”