Serra wins PIAA baseball semifinal; two other WPIAL teams lose

By Mike White | Monday, June 14, 2010, 8:55 p.m.

The WPIAL will have only one baseball team in the state championships.

Serra defeated Homer-Center, 7-2, in a PIAA Class A semifinal this afternoon to advance to Friday's title game at Blair County Ballpark in Altoona.

While Serra won today, two other WPIAL teams were defeated. Pine-Richland lost to West Chester Henderson, 2-1, in a Class AAAA semifinal. Elizabeth Forward was pounded by Hershey, 14-4, in a Class AAA semifinal.

Pine-Richland game

The usually strong-hitting Rams were stymied by West Chester Henderson pitcher Sean McCormick. Pine-Richland scored its only run of the game in the first inning on three hits. But the Rams did not have a hit the rest of the game.

West Chester Henderson scored both runs in the fifth inning. The first scored on a throwing error and Kyle Hooven drove in the other with a single.

For Pine-Richland, Zach Laneve started and was relieved by Chris Kosty in the fifth. Shane Stauffer pitched the final two innings.

Serra game

Brothers Oliver and Alain Girman combined on a six-hitter to give Serra the win. Oliver pitched the first five innings and Alain the final two. Six different players had RBIs for Serra. Oliver Girman and Avery Sandor both had a triple and two hits.

Elizabeth Forward loses

The game was stopped after five innings because of the 10-run rule. Hershey banged 14 hits off three Elizabeth Forward pitchers. Elizabeth Forward scored two runs in the top of the first, but Hershey batted around and scored six runs in the bottom of the first. Elizabeth Forward never recovered.