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Thursday, April 18, 2024 | 11:01 AM
Paul Schofield | TribLive
Jeannette pitcher Michael Mason delivers a pitch against Apollo-Ridge last season.
Jeannette took its lumps the last three seasons, which meant the Jayhawks were due to dish out some payback.
Perhaps patience has played a biggest part in this team’s turnaround.
After winning just four games last season (4-13), three the year before (3-10) and two the year before that (2-13), Jeannette is off to a 6-1 start and is averaging over nine runs per game.
“The three seniors have certainly paid their dues and have responded in a very positive way,” Jeannette coach Marcus Clarkson said.
Those seniors are Brayden Luttner, Michael Mason and Nick Rattigan.
Luttner is 2-1 with a 2.21 ERA on the mound, while Mason is an anchor in center field with a .381 batting average and the most runs scored in the team.
Rattigan is hitting a hefty .529 and slugging .714 as the designated hitter.
The Jayhawks’ Big 3 have seen the lowest points — the mercy ruled games and the long bus rides home.
“They all have contributed since their freshman season,” Clarkson said. “In those years, we struggled to get wins and it’s nice to see it come together and get some results.
“The wins show how far we’ve come. But they aren’t satisfied, trust me. And with the rest of the roster being 11 sophomores and one freshman, we have a more room to grow.”
Nice gesture
Fox Chapel played Franklin Regional this week in a two-game Section 1-5A series.
The teams split, which was important. But so was the fact Fox Chapel donated a large gift basket to Panthers’ Luca Bertucci, who is undergoing cancer treatment.
The catcher is the brother of pitcher Blake Bertucci.
Streaking
A number of local teams had winning streaks going early in the week.
Hempfield had an 11-game streak before losing to Canon-McMillan.
Streaks by Penn-Trafford and Belle Vernon reached six, while Latrobe has won five straight and Jeannette four in a row.
Franklin Regional had a five-game string of victories snapped by Fox Chapel.
Close calls
With Monday’s 3-2 home win by Penn-Trafford against Butler, the Warriors have now been involved in four one-run games this season.
The Warriors, who have a knack for walk-off wins at home, lost 4-3 to Fox Chapel then turned around and clipped the Foxes, 3-2, to split their series.
They also edged Plum, 3-2.
Greensburg Salem also knows a thing or two about close games. The Golden Lions also have four one-run games. They lost to East Allegheny (6-5) and Mt. Pleasant (7-6) and edged Mt. Pleasant (4-3) and McGuffey (5-4).
Ringing the Bell
Yough sophomore Nate Bell is an up-and-coming talent in the Cougars’ program. That much was clear last season.
It also is evident in his pitching. Bell has yet to lose on the mound as a varsity hurler. He is 8-0.
Rankings
Hempfield remained at No. 2 in the TribLive 6A rankings, while Penn-Trafford leapt into the 5A top 5, checking in at No. 4 this week.
Latrobe stayed No. 3 in 4A, while Valley stayed pat at No. 5 in 3A, and Greensburg Central Catholic didn’t budge from the No. 3 spot in 2A.
State ranks
Hempfield’s perfect start also earned it a spot in the TribLive state rankings. The Spartans are No. 3 in 6A.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at [email protected].
Tags: Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Jeannette, Penn-Trafford, Yough
