Westmoreland campus clippings: Penn-Trafford grad Tyler Horvat ready to build on All-American season

Gradually, Washington & Jefferson junior baseball player Tyler Horvat (Penn-Trafford) is getting back into a rhythm, but a slight setback has him well behind of last year’s torrid pace.

A nagging groin injury caused him to miss the first 10 games of the season.

“We didn’t want to rush things early in the season,” Horvat said. “I am completely healthy now and looking forward to helping the team in any way I can.”

The returning All-American utility man has only played in three games so far this season but has a pair of doubles. He has one pitching performance so far.

Last season, Horvat was the PAC Newcomer of the Year, finishing 9-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 70 innings with 71 strikeouts.

Also an outfielder, he led off a potent lineup and batted .366 with 17 extra-base hits and 34 RBIs. He tied for the PAC lead in triples (5) and was fourth in the PAC in slugging percentage (.630).

Baseball

Allegheny: Junior pitcher Bobby Kusinsky (Penn-Trafford) picked up his fourth win of the season, working the first 5 2/3 innings as the Gators defeated No. 11 Baldwin Wallace, 11-5.

Kusinsky (4-0) allowed seven hits and five runs.

Rutgers: Grad pitcher Jared Kollar (Latrobe) has been tremendous so far as a starter. In six appearances, he is 4-0 with a 2.60 ERA, 39 strikeouts and only three walks. The former Seton Hill arm has surrendered 10 runs in 34 2/3 innings.

Seton Hill: The Griffins pushed their season-best winning streak to eight with a four-game sweep of Pitt-Johnstown. Junior Jack Oberdorf (Greensburg Salem) went 3 for 4 with a homer and four RBIs in the final game, a 9-0 win, and went 3 for 3 in a 6-3 victory, adding a highlight defensive play at third base.

Seton Hill’s Jack Oberdorf makes a #SCtop10 play in the Griffins win over Pitt-Johnstown‼️WOW! ���� @espn @ESPNAssignDesk @SHGriffBaseball pic.twitter.com/9gWYw5eq65

— Westmoreland Sports Network (@WestmorelandSN) March 25, 2022

Sophomore left-hander Andino Vecchiolla picked up a complete-game win on the mound, striking out 11 while allowing just three hits in the shutout. Vecchiolla was named the PSAC West Pitcher of the Week.

Waynesburg: Senior Joe Sabolek (Belle Vernon) improved to 2-1 after a solid six-inning outing where he allowed five hits and struck out seven in a 12-4 victory over La Roche.

Softball

John Carroll: Freshman Kaylyn Odelli (Yough) has played in nine games with six starts. She has four runs and three RBIs, while sophomore Jess Lichota (Penn-Trafford) has four starts with a pair of runs and two RBIs.

Mercyhurst: Sophomore Morgan Hilty (Penn-Trafford) improved to 5-3 with a 2-0 shutout against Lake Erie. She scattered eight hits and induced nine groudouts and just as many flyouts in the complete-game win.

Robert Morris: Junior Dana Vatakis (Monessen) allowed three hits and struck out seven, while freshman Jess Matheny (Southmoreland) drove in a run as the Colonials defeated UIC, 8-1.

In the second game of the doubleheader sweep, sophomore Faith Miller (Southmoreland) delivered a game-tying double that scored freshman Bailee Bertani (Norwin) in a 13-7 victory.

Saint Vincent: The hottest team in the PAC ran its winning streak to 10 with a doubleheader sweep of Pitt-Greensburg.

The Bearcats (10-0) got a home run and four RBIs from senior Abby Ginter, while sophomore Leah Yoder (Norwin) went 3 for 4 with two doubles in a 10-3 win in game one.

In the second game, an 8-0 shutout, senior Kelsey Tobin (Hempfield) doubled twice, while sophomore Olivia Persin (Hempfield) and sophomore Alexandra Dillner (Norwin) joined her with two RBIs apiece. Freshman pitcher Olivia Bushore worked three innings, striking out five and walking one, to get her fourth win of the season.

Dillner was named the PAC Hitter of the Week, while Bushore earned PAC Pitcher of the Week honors.

Seton Hill: The Griffins ran their winning streak to seven and moved to 20-3 overall with a four-game sweep of Shippensburg. The fourth game was a 7-2 victory led by senior Morgan Toal, who went 3 for 4 with a double. Grad student Morgan Ryan (Hempfield) added a triple and freshman Grace Paredes drove in a pair of runs.

The third game of the series, Ryan struck out six and did not walk a batter in a complete-game, 3-1 win. Ryan and grad teammate Jenna Osikowicz (Hempfield) each homered.

In a 4-1 victory in game two, grad outfielder Osikowicz went 2 for 3 with a double, while Ryan and freshman Brooklyn Fukushima also had a pair of hits.

Freshman Chloe Elliott picked up her fifth win in the circle, striking out six and walking none in a four-hitter.

The first game matched Ryan against redshirt sophomore pitcher Maddie Uschock (Hempfield). Ryan struck out six over seven innings in a 2-1 victory. Ryan and Uschock both won WPIAL and PIAA championships at Hempfield.

Ryan was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week.

Wrestling

Gannon: Senior Jacob Dunlap (Belle Vernon) was an All-PSAC Second Team selection after a strong season competing at 125 pounds.

Dunlap earned a fourth trip to the NCAA Division II Championships and fell one match short of earning All-American honors.

Dunlap ended up with a 23-5 record with three pins, three technical falls and four major decisions.

He won a second straight Super Region I title.

Pitt: Luke Kemerer (Hempfield) is on the move. Kemerer announced he is entering the transfer portal and will leave Pitt. A redshirt junior 149-pounder, Kemerer went 7-9 this season and has a career record of 29-29.

He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Pitt-Johnstown: Redshirt sophomore Nate Smith (Franklin Regional) was named to the All-PSAC First Team. The 157-pounder finished eighth at the NCAA Division II Championships to earn All-America accolades, and finished the season with a record of 22-7.

He finished third at regionals.

Seton Hill: Redshirt senior Joel Cawoski (Latrobe) made the All-PSAC Third Team, along with teammate Brandon Matthews. Cawoski competed at 141 pounds, Matthews at 184.