UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Neshannock’s Grant Melder was outstanding Thursday, using a tight fastball and excellent curveball to pitch 7 ⅔ scoreless innings.
Unfortunately for the Lancers, their opponent’s pitchers were even better.
Calvin Isminger and Trenten Mellott combined to throw a two-hitter, helping Everett defeat Neshannock, 1-0, in nine innings in the PIAA Class 2A championship at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
It was the first PIAA title for District 5 champion Everett (21-2), which scored the game’s lone run in the bottom of the ninth. Neshannock reliever Jacob Walzer gave up a leadoff walk to Karl Foor. Freshman Dom Cubellis then entered the game and surrendered a walk to Mason Klotz, who was replaced by courtesy runner Jacob Price. That brought up No. 9 hitter Jadin Zinn. Everett coach Travis Klahre asked Zinn to bunt the runners over, but he failed his first three attempts as the count went to 1-2.
“The guy who was at the plate sometimes gets signs screwed up,” Klahre said. “The guy on second, I gave him the steal sign. I was anticipating a curveball or a called strike three or something like that. So he was off. The guy in the box didn’t get the right sign and he swung away and, holy crap, look what happened.”
What happened was Zinn sending a single through the hole between the third baseman and shortstop. It scored Price, a senior who came out for the team this season after not playing since sixth grade, his coach said.
Final — Everett 1, Neshannock 0 in nine innings. Everett wins its first PIAA title. Jadin Zinn’s walk-off hit ends it. pic.twitter.com/JWonynI2XB
— Brad Everett (@BREAL412) June 16, 2022
Neshannock (20-8) was looking to win its third PIAA title and first since 2015, but the Lancers did little offensively, mustering only a triple by Josh Pallerino in the sixth and a Melder single in the ninth. It was the third consecutive extra-inning game for the Lancers, who played 11 innings in the quarterfinals and nine in the semifinals.
“We’re going home with the silver, but I think they’ll all be golds in life,” Neshannock coach John Quahliero said.
Both starters pitched well enough to win, but both ended with no decisions. Melder, a junior, gave up six hits and three walks while striking out nine before being relieved by Walzer after reaching the 105-pitch limit with two outs in the eighth.
“My pitches were working,” Melder said. “I was pitching in the zone. We just needed to hit the ball.”
That was a big problem. Isminger was terrific, giving up just one hit over eight innings. He walked four and struck out seven. He’ll play football at Millersville University, which recruited him to be a long snapper. Thursday, he snapped, err handed, the ball to Mellott, who worked around some obstacles to retire Neshannock in the top of the ninth. Andrew Moses came in to run for Melder, who hit a one-out single. But Moses was caught stealing. Cubellis walked and Josh Prossen popped up to second, ending the threat.
It also ended a Neshannock season that saw the Lancers finish as runners up in the WPIAL and PIAA tournaments.
“The things that these kids overcame daily, weekly, they’re champions,” Quahliero said. “We won’t be remembered as champions, but in my eyes we are.”
Brad Everett: beverett@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BREAL412.
First Published: June 16, 2022, 5:00 p.m.
Updated: June 16, 2022, 5:11 p.m.
