Baseball

Alexander pitches gem for Mustangs

PORTAGE -- After providing heroics at the plate earlier this week, Portage senior pitcher Ty Alexander was instead called upon to lead his team on the mound Thursday night.

Alexander, who went 5-for-5 in Monday's WestPAC championship victory over Rockwood, once again stepped up when his team needed him the most in Thursday's District 6 Class 2A baseball quarterfinal against Northern Cambria.

The Delgado Community College (La.) commit struck out 14 and fought out of multiple jams to guide the Mustangs to a 4-2 victory.

"Our approach is in our defense," Alexander, who held the Colts to four hits in his six innings on the mound. "The defense behind me was phenomenal. Defense is the name of the game, and that's what we work on day in and day out. It was a total team effort."

With the game tied at one in the fourth inning, Alexander found himself in a huge pinch.

Two walks and a single from Isak Kudlawiec loaded the bases for Northern Cambria, and the Colts dugout was making it loud in an attempt to get under Alexander's skin.

The righty, however, regrouped and caught Brad Valeria looking to strand all three runners on base.

"He just threw a gem today," Portage coach Larry McCabe said. "It was a typical day for him. When he's on, it gives us a chance to win any ball game."

Alexander yet again found himself in another jam in the sixth.

With the Mustangs up 3-1 following a double by Andrew Miko that scored two runs, Northern Cambria (11-6) drew a walk and a double from Evan Wiewiora to put runners in scoring position.

Alexander, however, rose to the challenge and struck out the next three batters to keep his team's lead intact.

"In that moment, I kept telling myself that I just had to bear down and throw strikes," Alexander said. "You have to stay in the game and be a dog out there. I just want to go out there and win for my team. It was all about the team."

Riding the momentum of their pitcher, the Mustangs (19-0) extended their lead in the bottom half of the sixth with an RBI double from Nate Moore.

Northern Cambria tallied one run in the seventh after senior Josh Miller was walked with the bases loaded.

With one out and reliever Luke Scarton on the mound, Portage sparked a double play courtesy of third baseman Issac Jubina and first baseman Adam Stauski to close out the game.

It was the second-consecutive year that Portage defeated Northern Cambria in the first round of the playoffs.

"Today was a hard-fought battle," Northern Cambria coach Brian Bougher said. "Portage flat out beat us. They had great pitching, and we couldn't capitalize on some of the opportunities we had."

With the victory, Portage advances to the District 6 Class 2A semifinals and will face Bishop Guilfoyle at home Tuesday.

The No. 5 Marauders earned an 8-3 victory over River Valley Thursday.

"We're going to take off tomorrow and get back to work Sunday and Monday," McCabe said. "I don't have much on BG, but I'll do my scouting over the next few days here. We'll be ready."

PORTAGE (4): Alexander p-ss 121, Claar ss-2b 400, Miko cf 302, Scarton 1b-p 101, Irvin c 300, Jubina 3b 301, Kargo 2b-lf 310, Moore lf-rf 301, Stauski rf-1b 310. Totals -- 24 4 6

NORTHERN CAMBRIA (2): Taylor cf 300, Bougher ss 401, Krawcion 3b 400, Miller p 200, Wiewiora c 302, Yachtis lf 200, Kudlawiec 2b 301, Messina 1b 200, Valeria rf 321. Totals -- 26 2 5.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Northern Cambria 001 000 1 -- 2

Portage 001 021 X -- 4

E--Valeria, Kudlawiec, Claar, Jubina. 2B--Miko, Moore, Wiewiora. RBI--Miko 2, Scarton, Moore, Miller.

PITCHING

Portage: Alexander (W)--6 IP, 4H, 14K, 2R, 1ER. Scarton (SV)--1 IP, 1H, 0K, 0R, 0ER.

Northern Cambria: Miller (L)--6 IP, 6H, 5K, 4R, 2ER.