Ace David Shields pitches Mt. Lebanon to sweep of Hempfield, 2-game section lead

By: Don Rebel

Thursday, April 25, 2024 | 9:11 PM

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Mt. Lebanon senior David Shields missed the first few weeks of the season battling mononucleosis, a viral infection that causes a sore throat and fever, often in young adults.

While one of the top high school baseball players in the state is just now working back to feeling like himself, on Thursday, he made the Hempfield lineup feel sick.

Shields pitched his first complete game, scattering four hits while striking out 13 batters, as Mt. Lebanon hung on to first place in Section 2-6A with a 3-1 win over Hempfield.

“David is not good by accident. He’s as dedicated as Ian Happ and Austin Kitchen were in high school. That’s how hard David works,” Mt. Lebanon coach Patt McCloskey said. “He worked his way up to 100%, then he got mono, and I’m not joking when I say he showed up for practice and I didn’t recognize him, he lost that much weight.”

The game attracted at least 15 major-league scouts, who were jammed behind the home plate cage to watch the Miami recruit in action.

Shields set the Spartans down in order in the first, third, sixth and seventh innings, retiring the last seven batters he faced.

Hempfield junior Quinn Wilkins had a two-out single in the second inning, senior Carson Shuglie a one-out single in the fourth inning and senior Caden Bionidi singled in the fifth inning following the Spartans’ only run, a solo home run over the left-field fence by senior Max Short.

“It actually hit my friend’s dad’s car, so I’m sure he’ll be mad at me,” Shields joked about the home run. “Mr. Tinnemeyer, I’m sorry. I’d like to say it wasn’t my fault, but (Short) made a good swing on it.”

Fellow left-hander Parker Donsen, Hempfield’s senior starter, was impressive for the Spartans. He allowed three earned runs on only five hits with three walks, a hit batter and five strikeouts in six innings.

“I thought Parker pitched great,” Hempfield coach Tim Buzzard said. “It was a tough assignment, and he was up to the task.”

Mt. Lebanon loaded the bases in the third inning with one out when senior Sawyer Klasnick singled, senior Nolan Smith walked and freshman Graham Keen singled. Klasnick scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by senior Jake Tinnemeyer.

Mt. Lebanon (13-3) began this week one game behind Hempfield (12-4) in Section 2-6A.

Following a three-game sweep, the Blue Devils improve to 10-2 in the section and have a two-game lead over the Spartans, who fall to 8-4.

Both teams have only three section games remaining next week with Mt. Lebanon needing only one win or a Hempfield loss to secure a share of the section title.

The Blue Devils face Baldwin next week, and the Spartans conclude with three games against rival Norwin.

“We are disappointed by the outcome,” Buzzard said. “I thought we did a nice job battling against Shields. He is obviously a tremendous talent, and I thought our guys were ready to go.”

Tags: Hempfield, Mt. lebanon