BVA breaks game open against Laurel Highlands

By JOSE NEGRON

jnegron@yourmvi.com

Through the first three and a half innings of Monday evening’s section contest with Laurel Highlands, Belle Vernon Area head coach Tom Rodriguez admits he was getting a little nervous. 

His Leopards were trailing by three runs and their offense wasn’t exactly clicking on all cylinders. 

But after being limited to just two hits and leaving four runners stranded in the first three innings, something did click for BVA beginning in the fourth. 

The Leopards struck for five runs in the frame before adding eight in the fifth to run away with a 13-3 victory over the Mustangs in Section 2-4A play under the lights at the John DiVirgilio Sports Complex in Rostraver Township. 

“Early on, they were going after the first pitch no matter where it was, and you have to be more focused than that,” Rodriguez said. “They have to be a little more patient and I think when they started to do that, they were able to hit better.” 

Trailing 3-0, BVA (8-5, 5-2) scored the first of its 13 unanswered runs in the fourth as Lexi Daniels drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Abby Fabin, who reached on an error. With the bases still full of Leopards, Ashley Joll drove a bases-clearing triple into the gap in left-center field to put BVA up for good at 4-3. 

“I have a lot of faith in her,” Rodriguez said of Joll. “She’s always so focused and she works so hard.” 

BVA added another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Sophie Godzak before the onslaught continued in the fifth. 

Ava Zubovic led off the frame with a walk and Vanessa Porter reached on a bunt single. Fabin reached on an error, which allowed Zubovic to score and made it a 6-3 lead. 

After Tara Callaway reached on a fielder’s choice, Maren Metikosh lined an RBI double down the left field line to score Fabin from third. 

Callaway later scored on a wild pitch before Lexi Daniels added an RBI single into center field. Zubovic then drew a bases-loaded walk, and Porter followed with a bases-clearing double to finish the game in five innings. 

Porter was the lone BVA player with multiple hits as the Leopards collected nine in the win. Porter and Joll each finished with three RBIs. 

LH (1-9, 0-8) was limited to five hits, including a two-run inside-the-park home run by Sid Grimm that put the Mustangs ahead in the third. They scored their other run in the fourth on an RBI single by Anna Smith, who went 2 for 2. 

Godzak earned the win in the pitching circle. She allowed three earned runs on five hits while walking a pair and striking out five. 

BVA travels to Thomas Jefferson today.