Louisville Stamps Struthers 8-2 to Open Tournament – Baseball

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#9 Louisville 8, #21 Struthers 2

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Jenny Can Cleaning AdThe #9 Seed Louisville Leopards Baseball Team defeated the visiting #21 seed Struthers Wildcats 8-2 in the DII Louisville Sectional Semifinals Tuesday Evening at Andy Aljancic Field. With the victory, Louisville improves to 15-12 on the season and advances to take on the #2 seed Salem Quakers in the DII Louisville Sectional Finals on Wednesday, May 19 at 5:00 PM from Salem High School.


Morley Leads Leopards to Sectional Win

Louisville City School District Levy 2021 - Issue 13 AdSophomore pitcher Connor Morley pitched a complete game, allowed just 1 unearned run on 4 hits, and struck out 8 to lead the Leopards on the hill. He retired the side in the second, struck out the side in the sixth, and also worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning. He also fanned 5 of the final 6 batters he faced to end the game and earn his team best seventh victory of the season. Morley is now 7-2 on the year and has earned a winning decision in his last 5 starts on the mound.

Morley also helped his own cause at the plate with a 2-out, 2-run double in the bottom of the sixth to help Louisville open up an 8-2 lead. Senior pinch runners Evan Kroah and Colby Croxton both scored on the 2-out smash to center field.


Louisville Take the Lead and Build Upon It

Junior shortstop JT Popick recorded the Leopards only other extra-base hit on a double to left field to open the bottom of the first inning. Two batters later, senior designated hitter Broc Picken’s RBI groundout to the shortstop brought home Popick from third. Later in the inning, senior catcher Kaedin Gotshall also recorded an RBI groundout to short that plated sophomore center fielder Charlie Roberts to put Louisville in front 2-1.

Roberts would help add to the Leopard lead when he led off the bottom of the third with an infield single to the first for his second hit of the contest. Roberts then took second on a wild pitch and came home via senior first baseman Ryan Aljancic’s RBI single to left that made it 3-1. Gotshall followed with his second RBI groundout of the game that plated Pickens from third base to put LHS in front 4-1. 


Seaman Scores on Straight Steal of Home

My Fit Life Personal Trainer Side AdAfter Struthers cut the deficit to 4-2, Louisville answered with another pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Junior right fielder Zack Seaman manufactured the first Leopard run of the inning on his own. He singled to start the frame and then advanced to second and third base on consecutive wild pitches. In the next at bat, Seaman took off on an 0-1 pitch and Roberts was unable to connect on the bunt attempt. Seaman still slid in under the catcher’s tag for a rare straight steal of home plate to put LHS ahead 5-2.


Roberts Scores Thrice

Lingenhoel Group - Arden and Lisa Lingenhoel - Cutler Real Estate AdRoberts fouled off the next pitch and then watched 4 straight balls to draw a 1-out walk. He then swiped second base to record his team best 22nd steal of the season while putting himself into scoring position. On the next pitch, Pickens singled on hard ground ball to left field and Roberts crossed the plate for his third run of the game to put Louisville up 6-2.

The Leopards out-hit the Wildcats 11-4 for the game. Aljancic, junior third baseman Caleb Miller, and Roberts all recorded multi-hit games for Louisville. 


Struthers Scratches Out a Pair of Runs

Samantha's Grill AdStruthers recorded 2 of their 4 hits in the opening inning to take the early lead. Sophomore starting pitcher Alex Grzyb hit a 1-out double and then advanced to third on junior shortstop Drew Day’s infield single. Right fielder Ronnie Leonard then recorded the Wildcats only RBI of the contest on a ground out to first that scored Grzyb.

Leonard also scored Struthers only other run of the game in the top of the fourth. He walked to start the inning and then stole second. Then sophomore center fielder Olindo Pezzone grounded out to Popick at short and Leonard took off for third upon the release. The throw back across the diamond for a double play missed its mark and Leonard took home as a result.


10 Straight DII Sectional Wins at Home for LHS

This was the first ever meeting between the two teams on the diamond in known history. The Leopards have now won their tournament opener in each of the past three seasons since re-entering Division II in 2018. Louisville now holds a 29-25 record in Division II tournament play since 1991 and 47-48 record overall in our records dating back to 1972. 

Leopards Head Coach Brian Warner is now 5-5 all-time in the postseason, which includes a 4-2 record when playing in Division II. Louisville has now won 10 consecutive home Division II sectional tournament games dating back to 2006.    

UP NEXT: The #9 Seed Louisville Baseball Team will next travel to face the #2 seed Salem Quakers in the DII Louisville Sectional Finals on Wednesday, May 19. Game time is set for 5:00 PM from Salem High School.


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VARSITY BASEBALL BOX SCORE

LEOPARDS 8, WILDCATS 2

Team 123-456-7–R-H-E

Struthers 100-100-0–2-4-0

Louisville 202-202-X–8-11-2

STRUTHERS WILDCATS BASEBALL VARSITY BATTING STATS

Lineup AB R H RBI BB SO
Chance Laczko 3 0 1 0 0 0
Alex Grzyb 3 1 1 0 0 0
Drew Day 3 0 1 0 0 1
Ronnie Leonard 2 1 0 1 1 1
Carson Patterson 3 0 0 0 0 2
Olindo Pezzone 3 0 0 0 0 1
Gino Calabrette 3 0 0 0 0 0
Dominic Carcelli 3 0 0 0 0 2
Eric Davis 2 0 1 0 0 1
Grady Moore
Totals 25 2 4 1 1 8
Batting

2B: Alex Grzyb
TB: Chance Laczko, Alex Grzyb 2, Eric Davis, Drew Day
RBI: Ronnie Leonard
SB: Ronnie Leonard

Totals

Team QAB: 7 (26.92%)
Carson Patterson, Alex Grzyb, Gino Calabrette 2, Olindo Pezzone, Drew Day, Ronnie Leonard

Team LOB: 3

STRUTHERS WILDCATS BASEBALL VARSITY PITCHING STATS

Pitching IP #P S% H R ER SO BB HR
Alex Grzyb 3.1 85 .553 6 6 6 2 4 0
Drew Day 1.0 12 .667 2 0 0 0 0 0
Ronnie Leonard 1.2 28 .643 3 2 2 1 1 0
Totals 6.0 125 .584 11 8 8 3 5 0
Pitching

L: Alex Grzyb
WP: Alex Grzyb 5
Pitches-Strikes: Alex Grzyb 85-47, Drew Day 12-8, Ronnie Leonard 28-18
Groundouts-Flyouts: Alex Grzyb 7-1, Drew Day 1-2, Ronnie Leonard 2-2
First pitch strikes-Batters faced: Alex Grzyb 9-20, Drew Day 3-5, Ronnie Leonard 6-9

LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS BASEBALL VARSITY BATTING STATS

Lineup AB R H RBI BB SO
JT Popick 4 1 1 0 0 0
Charlie Roberts 3 3 2 0 1 0
Broc Pickens 2 1 1 2 2 0
-Evan Kroah 0 1 0 0 0 0
Ryan Aljancic 3 0 2 1 1 0
-Colby Croxton 0 1 0 0 0 0
Kaedin Gotshall 4 0 0 2 0 1
Connor Morley 3 0 1 2 1 0
Caleb Miller 4 0 2 0 0 1
-Kyle Vesley 0 0 0 0 0 0
Connor Adelman 2 0 0 0 0 1
Zack Seaman 3 1 2 0 0 0
Tyler Jackson
Totals 28 8 11 7 5 3
Batting

2B: Connor Morley, JT Popick
TB: Ryan Aljancic 2, Caleb Miller 2, Connor Morley 2, Broc Pickens, JT Popick 2, Charlie Roberts 2, Zack Seaman 2
RBI: Ryan Aljancic, Kaedin Gotshall 2, Connor Morley 2, Broc Pickens 2
SAC: Connor Adelman
SB: Colby Croxton, Connor Morley, Charlie Roberts 2, Zack Seaman 2, Kyle Vesley

Totals

Team QAB: 21 (61.76%)
Connor Adelman, Ryan Aljancic 2, Caleb Miller 4, Connor Morley 3, Broc Pickens 4, JT Popick 4, Charlie Roberts 2, Zack Seaman

Team LOB: 8

Fielding

E: Ryan Aljancic, Caleb Miller

LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS BASEBALL VARSITY PITCHING STATS

itching IP #P S% H R ER SO BB HR
Connor Morley 7.0 76 .724 4 2 1 8 1 0
Totals 7.0 76 .724 4 2 1 8 1 0
Pitching

W: Connor Morley
Pitches-Strikes: Connor Morley 76-55
Groundouts-Flyouts: Connor Morley 5-8
First pitch strikes-Batters faced: Connor Morley 19-26

Records: Louisville 15-12

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