In a quarter-century as coach at Serra Catholic, Brian Dzurenda has just about seen and done it all — but even he had never experienced an ending like Friday night’s WPIAL Class 1A semifinal between the Eagles and No. 5 Greensburg Central Catholic.
In a showdown between two red-hot ballclubs with plenty of firepower, the Eagles trailed for much of the game before taking their first lead with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning when freshman Cole Hann came home to score on a double steal. Serra senior Owen Dumbroski then picked off a pinch-runner for the Centurions at first base for the final out of the game in the top of the seventh, clinching a narrow 3-2 win for the Eagles’ fourth-consecutive WPIAL championship appearance.
“I’m going to be honest, Owen has not thrown over to first base all year,” Dzurenda said. “We knew the runner was going. He had a giant lead. He went on the pitch before. We threw over twice, and he got a bigger lead [the second time]. It wasn’t even close.”
Tyler Skaggs got the start for Serra, pitching three innings and allowing one run on just one hit while striking out five. Dumbroski then came on in relief and allowed one run on three hits over four innings of work, punching out five and walking none. Dumbroski also reached base safely in each of his three plate appearances, singling and walking twice while also tallying an RBI.
“There are so many unsung heroes on this team, and they’re selfless,” Dzurenda said. “That’s what I love about this group so much.”
Winner of four WPIAL titles, one state title and more than 400 games since taking over at his alma mater in 2000, Dzurenda has built Serra into the ultimate model of consistency, and this will now be his ninth trip to the championship game as head coach. But after back-to-back runner-up finishes in Class 2A the previous two seasons, Dzurenda isn’t interested in anything other than gold when the Eagles take on upstart Carmichaels for the Class 1A crown next week.
“It definitely doesn’t get old,” Dzurenda said. “Our seniors don’t know anything but going to a championship [game]. … We played a very, very talented Greensburg team today. Our kids just stayed steady, and we pulled it out. It was great.”
Other Class 1A semifinal
• Back-to-back bases-loaded walks and a fielder’s choice accounted for all four first-inning runs for No. 6 Carmichaels (15-4), then the Mighty Mikes held off a late rally by No. 2 Eden Christian (15-5) for a nail-biting 4-3 win at Gateway. After 6 1/3 valiant innings on the mound from Colin Andrews, Robbie Wilson-Jones came in to shut the door with a runner on first and one out in the bottom of the seventh, inducing back-to-back groundouts to strand the tying run on second and pick up the save. Wilson-Jones also went 1 for 3 with a triple, a walk and a run scored in the win.
Class 3A semifinals
• Just three days after pitching a five-inning no-hitter in a quarterfinal win against Burrell, Riverside star Zach Hare turned in another performance for the ages in a 1-0 win against No. 5 South Park (14-7) at Plum. Hare started the game on the rubber and pitched seven more innings of no-hit ball while striking out 10, then Jackson Barber hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 12th inning to send the No. 1 Panthers (16-2) to their third consecutive WPIAL championship game. Eagles ace Cooper Hochendoner pitched nine-plus innings without allowing a run, while Hunter Garvin relieved Hare and pitched five scoreless innings of his own, allowing just two hits to go with 10 punchouts.
• Leadoff hitter Oscar Roig went 3 for 3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored, helping No. 7 Quaker Valley take down No. 11 Mohawk (12-10) in the rubber match between the section rivals at Seneca Valley, 5-2. Noah Wagoner and Ryan Finamore each allowed four walks while striking out four, but each pitcher also allowed only one hit for the Quakers (15-6), with Wagoner earning the win after firing five shutout innings.
Class 2A semifinals
• Sean Hudac went 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI, and he pitched a complete-game gem for No. 2 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (15-7), allowing one run on seven hits and one walk in a 3-1 win against No. 6 Riverview at Peters Township’s Peterswood Park. Multi-sport standout Vann Kavals also knocked in a run for the Chargers, while Johnny Bertucci and Eli DeVita tallied three hits apiece in a losing effort for the Raiders (14-7).
• After allowing a leadoff double by No. 12 Laurel (10-11) in the top of the seventh inning, No. 8 Freedom stranded the tying run on base to escape with an 8-7 victory at Neshannock. The win sends the Bulldogs (14-7) to the WPIAL title game for the first time since 2017 and only the second time in school history.
Scoreboard
Class 3A semifinals
Riverside 1, South Park 0
Quaker Valley 5, Mohawk 2
Class 2A semifinals
Freedom 8, Laurel 7
O.L. Sacred Heart 3, Riverview 1
Class 1A semifinals
Carmichaels 4, Eden Christian 3
Serra Catholic 3, Greensburg C.C. 2
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
