Matt Nash scattered five hits over seven innings to pitch the Bethlehem baseball team to a 6-1 victory over Shaker in Saturday’s Section II, Class AA quarterfinal game in Delmar.
Nash got plenty of run support, as the Eagles (19-6) built a 4-0 lead through the first four innings. Shaker (12-12) got its only run in the top of the fifth inning before Bethlehem put the game away with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Lucas Nitsche drove in two runs with a triple and a single, and Will DeRuve added a double for the Eagles, who meet top-seeded LaSalle in Wednesday’s semifinals at Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy. Mike Skroupa hit a pair of singles for Shaker.
LaSalle, the state’s No. 1 ranked Class AA team, remained unbeaten with an 8-1 quarterfinal victory over Guilderland Saturday at Troy’s Geer Field. The Cadets (24-0) broke the game open with a four-run third inning and sealed their win with a three-run fifth inning.
Amar Lewis drove in three runs with two doubles and a single, and Kyle Charron singled three times for LaSalle, which is coached by former Bethlehem manager Jesse Braverman.
Nick Ranalli doubled, singled and stole two bases for Guilderland (14-12). Steve Anderson drove in the Dutchmen’s lone run with a fourth inning double.
Elsewhere, Columbia ended Colonie’s playoff run with a 7-5 victory in East Greenbush. The Blue Devils (17-9) rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, three of them coming on Ian Gaule’s walkoff home run.
Andy Carucci homered, doubled and singled for Colonie, which finished its season with a 14-10 record.
In Class A, Mohonasen cruised past Glens Falls 11-0 in Rotterdam. Robert Tedesco struck out 12 batters in the four-plus innings he pitched, and C.J. Fonda belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to get the Mighty Warriors’ offense rolling.
In Class B, Granville ended Saratoga Central Catholic’s bid for a second consecutive Sectional title with a 6-3 victory, while Schalmont and Hudson saw its game suspended in the fifth inning by rain with the score tied at 5.
Shane Matthews hit a home run and a single for Saratoga Catholic, which ends its season with a 20-6 record.
In Class CC, fourth-seeded Voorheesville advanced to the semifinals with a 15-4 victory over Schoharie Saturday. Jay Conde was a home run short of hitting for the cycle as he tripled, doubled and singled for the Blackbirds (16-8).
Chris Massaroni also tripled for Voorheesville, which plays top-seeded Lake George Tuesday at Clifton Common.
In Class D, top-seeded Loudonville Christian School pulled out a 3-1 victory over Hartford Saturday at Colonie’s Cook Park. Matt MaLossi pitched a complete game for the Eagles, allowing only three hits and striking out 10.
Nathanael Crachi drove in two of Loudonville Christian’s three runs with a double.
The Eagles meet No. 5 North Warren in Tuesday’s Class D semifinals at the Boght Baseball Complex in Latham.`