WPIAL Class AAA Quarterfinal Playoff game - Shaler 4, Moon Area 0 - Wednesday May 21, 2003

The Tiger's dream of defending it's PIAA Class AAA back to back gold medals came to a screeching halt on Wednesday at Butler's Pullman Park. The No. 1 ranked Shaler Titans beat Moon 4-0 with great defense and some timely pitching. Unlike their previous exhibition game in which Shaler destroyed the Tigers, 11-1. This game was close in intensity. Titan's No.1 pitcher, Chris Squeglia and Tiger No. 2 starter Dave Cimato held each at bay over the first five innings of thier WPIAL Class AAA Quarterfinal game. Cimato was touched for only a run in the first inning after a controversial 3-2 count walk with two outs. The walk allowed the Titan's Squeglia to hit and his double gave the Titan's thier first run. Meanwhile the Tiger offense might have outhit the Titans, it's defense proved to be the key to it's success. It robbed Nathan Nery twice, it robbed Austin Sykes. That along with Squeglia's eight strikeouts ended the Moon dynasty. For the Titans (21-1), it's on to the WPIAL Class AAA Semifinals and a berth in the PIAA Class AAA playoffs. For the Tigers, it is a tough end to a great season. A season in which saw another great Tiger pitcher come to fruition, Nathan Nery, a offensive power flex his power, Austin Sykes and a team that was primarily young in heart and age prove they could compete with thier former predecessors.

SHALER AREA - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 3 - 0 = 4 - 5 - 0

MOON AREA - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 = 0 - 7 - 1

Winner - Chris Squeglia (7 innings) 8 strikeouts, 3 walks. Loser - Dave Cimato (5 innings) 1 strikeout, 1 walk. 2B - George Nieman (SA), Squeglia (SA). Two or more hits - Nieman (SA), Dom Manno (MA), Nick Petersen (MA).

This game will be broadcast also on the internet live at NSNSports.com. Just click on this handy link to get the game.

NSNSports.com Internet broadcast: Shaler vs. Moon Area - 2003 WPIAL Class AAA Quarterfinal Round Playoff Game

WPIAL Class AAA First Round Playoff game - Moon Area 9, Plum 5 - Monday May 19, 2003

Moon alive for PIAA three-peat

BUTLER - It looked like the Moon Area High School baseball team would take an early exit from the playoffs this season but the Tigers rallied for six runs in the seventh inning to defeat Plum, 9-5, in a WPIAL Class AAA first-round playoff game on Monday. Moon, which won the state championship in each of the past two seasons, trailed Plum, 4-3, heading into the seventh inning of yesterday's game at Butler's Highfield Park. But the Tigers exploded for six hits and six runs in the top of the seventh inning to keep the dream of a three-peat alive. Plum (14-7) would get one run back in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn't enough as Moon (13-7) advanced to the second round where they'll play Shaler on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.

Senior pitcher Nathan Nery was dominant on the mound, striking out 14 and allowing six hits and two walks in seven innings to collect the win. But, with the game on the line, Nery also came through at the plate. With Moon trailing by a run, senior Austin Sykes led off the top of the seventh inning with a single. Nery then smacked a double to deep left field to put runners at second and third with no outs. "Our two seniors (Nery and Sykes) are special," Moon coach Tom Hoffman said. "You come up in the top of the seventh losing by a run with Austin and Nate coming up back to back, that's exactly what you need. They performed and the kids saw that and followed them." Adrian Sykes brought his brother home with a single, tying the game 4-4. Then, two batters later, Sean Holliday singled home Adrian to put Moon ahead. Nick Petersen followed with an RBI single, Dom Manno hit a sacrifice fly and Austin Sykes, batting for the second time in the inning, hit a two-run single to round out the seventh inning offensive outpouring. "We get down early in the game with our top pitcher on the mound, we could have very easily packed it up and said the season's over," Hoffman said. "But this is a resilient group."

Austin Sykes finished the day four-for-five with a double and two RBIs. Petersen also had a big day, going three-for-four with an RBI and two runs. Moon jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a run-scoring infield hit by Bobby Francis. Plum came back with two runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth inning. Plum pitcher Jason Schmeidel was solid early but "ranout of gas" according to Mustangs' coach Tom McCarthy. Schmeidel allowed 15 hits and one walk while striking out four in 6 1/3 innings.

"We were in control of the game until the last inning," McCarthy said. "You've got to give (Moon) credit for not folding up. "They had some quality at-bats that enabled them to get their big guys up in the last inning." Hoffman said he's happy with the win, but it's too early to start thinking about a three-peat. A more pressing goal is advancing through the WPIAL playoffs. While the team has won the state title in each of the past two seasons, it didn't reach for the WPIAL Championship game in either campaign. "Our seniors want to get to PNC Park," Hoffman said. "We haven't been there. The last two years we got within one game, but we've got to play it one game at a time."

MOON AREA - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 6 = 9 - 16 - 2

PLUM AREA - 0 - 0 - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 1 = 5 - 6 - 1

Winner - Nathan Nery (7 innings) 14 strikeouts, 2 walks. Loser - Jason Schmiedel (6 1/3 innings) 4 strikeouts, 1 walk. 2B - Austin Sykes (MA), Adrian Sykes (MA), Nathan Nery (MA), Sean Holliday (MA). 3B - (P). Two or more hits - Au. Sykes (MA) 4, Nick Petersen (MA) 3, Dom Manno (MA), Sean Holliday (MA), Ad. Sykes (MA).

Here is the handy link to this afternoon's Moon Area First Round WPIAL Class AAA Playoff game being broadcast on the internet via NSNsports.com. NSN's Steve Nagler and Lee Mohn have the call from Lyndora's High Field near Butler, PA.

NSNSports.com Internet broadcast: Plum vs. Moon Area - 2003 WPIAL Class AAA 1st Round Playoff Game

Moon Area 6, North Allegheny 2 - Thursday May 8, 2003

The Moon Area Tigers (12-7) played host to the No. 2 ranked North Allegheny Tigers (16-4). The game originally was supposed to be against Chartiers Valley. However, the Colts had a make up game at Falconi Field. Moon AD Bill Moore sent out emails to schools who needed an exhibition game and Head Coach Tim Banner's North Allegheny filled the slot. Moon made the most of the matchup beating them 6-2 at Moon Area H.S. Field. Moon's Sr. Ace Nathan Nery (9-0) got the win and also struck out nine to break the Moon Area High School Baseball All-time Most Strikeouts in a Single-Season with 116. This broke the old mark that was held by Thomas Haskins (JR.-19670 for 37 years at 114. CONGRATULATIONS NATHAN !!!! Offensively, a bases loaded double by Adrian Sykes was the difference in the game. Dom Manno had two hits. Austin Sykes, Bob Francis, Jason Swalga, and Sean Holliday also added singles.

Moon's Nathan Nery sets strikeout as Tigers upset No.2 North Allegheny

Two three-run innings gave the Moon Tigers (12-7) a 6-2 exhibition win over North Allegheny (16-4) at Moon Area H.S. Field on Thursday afternoon. Adam Dobies blasted a triple and Andrew Duffett added a double for NA. Adrian Sykes had a double for Moon as senior pitcher Andy Sekelik picked up the loss for NA. Moon hit the Tigers with three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead. The NA Tigers came back with a pair of runs in the top of the third to cut the margin to 3-2. A three-run fourth pushed it back to a four-run lead and then senior pitcher Nathan Nery held off NA for the remainder of the game. Nery had nine strikeouts in going the distance for the victory.

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 = 2 - 6 - 2

MOON AREA - 3 - 0 - 0 - 3 - 0 - 0 - X = 6 - 7 - 2

Winner - Nathan Nery (7 innings), 9 strikeouts. Loser - Andy Sekelic (6 innings). 2B - Adrian Sykes (MA), Andrew Duffett (NA). 3B - Adam Dobies (3B). Two or more hits - Dom Manno (MA).

Hopewell 9, Moon Area 7 - Thursday May 1, 2003

Poor defense and some rocky pitching denied the Tigers a piece of the WPIAL Section 8-AAA with West Allegheny. The 9-7 loss to the Vikings on Thursday puts some doubts and questions on how they will fare in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs. If Moon had won, they would be sharing the WPIAL Section 8-AAA title with the Indians, who also suffered a 0-0 loss at the hands of the red hot Montour Spartans. Tiger starter So. Matt Dowdell got rocked in the second inning and allowed Hopewell (4-4, 10-7) to score 6 runs and overcome the Tigers 5-0 first inning lead. Dom Manno led the Tigers offense with three hits including a pair of doubles.

Baseball - Hopewell 9, Moon Area 7

HOPEWELL TWP. - Josh Magnone was magnificent. In a seven-inning relief appearance, he surrendered only three hits and allowed Hopewell to come back from a 5-0 deficit. Magnone, now 5-0, entered the game after Moon scored five runs in the first inning. The bases were loaded, and Hopewell had not yet recorded an out. He induced a strikeout, a popup and a groundball to end the rally. Travis Costo used three hits, including a home run, to drive in three runs. Matt McCrory's two-run single fueled a six-run rally in the bottom of the second inning. Hopewell was 1-3 at the midpoint of the section season, but managed a 3-1 record in the second half of the season. The Vikings, 10-7 overall, finished one victory shy of a place in the playoffs.

Hopewell 9, Moon Area 7

MOON AREA - 5 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 = 7 - 6 - 2

HOPEWELL - 0 - 6 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 1 - X = 9 - 10 - 2

Winner - Josh Magnone (7 inns.) 2 walks, 5 strikeouts. Losing pitcher -Matt Dowdell (1 2/3 inns.) 2 walks, 1 strikeout. 2B - Nick Manno (MO) 2. HR - Travis Costo (HO). 2 or more hits - Nick Manno (MO) 3, Costo (HO) 3, Josh Magnone (HO) 2, Mike Hudak (HO) 2, Matt McCrory (HO) 2.

Moon Area 11, Ambridge 4 - Tuesday April 29, 2003

The defending PIAA Class AAA Back to Back State Champions, our Moon Area Tigers clinched a WPIAL Class AAA playoff spot for the sixth straight year with a 11-4 win over Ambridge. The Tigers, led by a 15 strikeout performance by Senior lefty Nathan Nery, avenged an earlier loss to the slumping Bridgers (3-5, 7-9). The Tigers also pounded the ball offensively on Tuesday with 15 hits and it was led by Senior CF Austin Sykes. Sykes, who has really been hot at the plate recently, went 3 for 3 with a three run home run, a double, and single. Sophomore Nick Peterson also added three hits. Dom Manno, Sean Holliday and Dan Pellecchia each added a pair of hits.

For Moon, this is the sixth straight year that they have reached the WPIAL playoffs. In 1998, it started under former legendary Head Coach Ray Bosetti and has continued since than under the guidance of Tom Hoffman, who has been the Pgh. Tribune Review's Baseball Coach of the Year the past two seasons.

Baseball - Moon Area 11, Ambridge 4

Moon Area 11, Ambridge 4

AMBRIDGE - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 2 - 0 = 4 - 8 - 2

MOON AREA - 0 - 3 - 4 - 0 - 0 - 4 - X = 11 - 15 - 4

Winner - Nery (7 inns.) 15 strikeouts, 3 walks. Loser - Muller (2 2/3 inns.) 1 strikeout, 1 walk. 2B - Au. Sykes (MA), Swalga (MA), Pellecchia (MA), Bucuren (A). 3B - Rodenbaugh (A). HR - Au. Sykes. 2 or more hits - Au. Sykes 3 (MA), Peterson (MA) 3, Manno (MA), Holliday (MA), Pellecchia (MA), Shrewsbury (A), Rodenbaugh (A).

Moon Area 9, Freedom 8 - Saturday April 26, 2003

MOON TWP. - Dan Pellacchia drove in all four of his runs in the fifth and sixth innings to help Moon Area rally to tie Freedom, and a wild pitch allowed the Tigers to escape with the eight-inning non-section victory on Saturday. Moon Area got the winning run in the eighth on when Austin Sykes singled, moved to third on a double by Nate Nery and, after an intentional walk to Adrian Sykes, came home on the wild pitch. Freedom's Brad Landis had four hits and three RBIs. Moon Area reliever Matt Dowdell held Freedom scoreless in the seventh and eight innings.

Moon Area 9, Freedom 8

FREEDOM - 4 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 2 - 0 - 0 = 8 - 10 - 0

MOON AREA - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 3 - 3 - 0 - 1 = 9 - 13 - 2

Winner - Dowdell (2 inns.) 4 strikeouts, 0 walks. Loser - Clear (3 2/3 inns.) 3 strikeouts, 3 walks. 2B - Brad Landis (F), Austin Sykes (MA), Nate Nery (MA), Dan Pellecchia (MA), Nick Peterson (MA). 3B - none. HR - none. 2 or more hits - Landis 4, Austin Sykes 3, Manno (MA), Nery, Pellecchia.

West Allegheny 8, Moon Area - Thursday April 24, 2003

West Allegheny takes shot at Moon, 8-3

Courtesy of the Beaver County Timesonline

NORTH FAYETTE TWP. - Jon Leiber created possibility, then Eric Thompson preserved and protected it for the final six innings. Thompson, a junior who didn't pitch for the varsity a year ago, struck out 12 batters and pushed his record to 5-0 as West Allegheny defeated Moon Area 8-3 Thursday in a battle for first place in WPIAL Section 8-AAA. West Allegheny pushed its record to 4-1 in the section, while Moon Area slid to 9-6 overall, 4-2 in the section. "The story of the game is Eric Thompson," West Allegheny Coach Dave Oddi said. "He's come out of nowhere. He worked with us in the fall, and he's become our most consistent player through the first 15 games. He elevates our baseball team right now. "Today, he took the ball against Moon, a great team with a great tradition, and he gave us an outstanding performance." Moon Area took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Leiber, a senior, energized his teammates with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. "There was a lot of pressure on us after giving up a run in the first inning," Oddi said. "Then Leiber hit a bomb. It was way up in the trees, and that gave us a big lift. I thought that was where we first starting believing we could win." Thompson, after giving up the run in the first inning, struck out five consecutive batters. "He was in control," Oddi said. Thompson also contributed two hits, while Leiber produced two hits and four RBIs. Nathan Nery ripped two doubles for Moon Area. "This is a big win, but this race is going right down to (the end) before anything's decided," Oddi said. "This section's so strong. And with only eight section games this year, every game means something. It's going to be exciting right to the end."

West Allegheny 8, Moon Area 3

MOON AREA - 1 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 = 3 - 6 - 3

WEST ALLEGHENY - 2 - 0 - 2 - 1 - 0 - 3 - 0 = 8 - 10 - 3

Winner - Eric Thompson (7 innings) 12 strikeouts, 1 walk. Loser - Dave Cimato (5 2/3 innings) 5 strikeouts, 2 walks. 2B - Nathan Nery (MA), 2 ,Thompson (WA), Messner (WA). 3B - Leber (WA), Marshall (WA). HR - Leber (WA). Two or more hits - Nery (MA), Thompson (WA), Leber (WA)

Moon Area 4, Montour 0 - Tuesday April 22, 2003

Have you ever heard the addage that lightning never strikes the in the same place twice, you can dismiss that thought as Nathan Nery again led the Tigers (4-1, 9-5) to a 4-0 victory over visiting Montour (0-6, 4-8-1). Nery repeated his 18 strikeout performance and again tied the Moon H.S. single seven inning game strikeout mark with 18 K's. Nery now has 91 strikeouts on the year, tying Michael Hughes (1980, 91 K's) at No.5 on the all-time single season strikeout mark. The single season strikeout record is held by Thomas Haskins (1967-68) with 114. The Spartans again felt the Nery wrath as he allowed only four hits and four walks. Austin Sykes hit a two-run home run for the Tigers. The Moon offense was limited to three hits. Adrian Sykes had the other two hits for the Tigers which included a triple.

Baseball - Moon 4, Montour 0

MONTOUR - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 = 0 - 4 - 3

MOON AREA - 2 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - X = 4 - 3 - 0

Winner - Nery (7 inns.) 18 strikeouts, 4 walks. Loser - Taslov (4 1/3) 6 strikeouts, 5 walks. 2B - Ad. Sykes (Moon), Amrhein (Mon). 3B - Ad. Sykes (Moon). HR - Au. Sykes (Moon). Two-or-more hits - Ad. Sykes (Moon) 2.

Moon Area 9, Hopewell 5 - Tuesday April 15, 2003

Nery's two-homer, 11-strikeout performance overshadowed by Sykes hitting for cycle

MOON TWP. - Moon Area High School senior Nathan Nery pitched a complete game, struck out 11 batters, hit a pair of home runs and drove in five runs in a Section 8-AAA victory over Hopewell, 9-5, on Tuesday. But still Nery couldn't claim the game's top individual performance. Teammate Austin Sykes went four for four at the plate - a single, double, triple and home run - as the senior hit for the cycle for the first time. Sykes, who also drove in four runs, hit a line drive to deep left-center field and sprinted to third base to complete the feat in the sixth inning. The Tigers (8-5, 3-1) scored five runs off Hopewell starter Travis Costo in his three innings.

Moon 9, Hopewell 5

HOPEWELL - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 1 - 2 = 5 - 4 - 3

MOON AREA - 2 - 0 - 3 - 2 - 0 - 2 - X = 9 - 10 - 2

Winner - Nery (6 inns.) 11 strikeouts, 7 walks. Loser - Costo (3 inns.) 2 strikeouts, 1 walk. 2B - Francis (M), Sykes (M). 3B - Swalga (M), Sykes (M). HR - Nery (M) 2, Sykes (M). 2-or-more-hits - Sykes (M) 4, Nery (M) 3.

Ambridge 8, Moon Area 4 - Saturday April 12, 2003

The Tigers got a reality check on Saturday afernoon in Ambridge. The Bridgers jumped on Moon early and often in a 8-4 first section loss. Dave Cimato who pitched all six innings took the loss. Nathan Nery had three hits. P.S. - Please forgive my tardiness on updating the page this weekend. Between work, family commitments and being unable to reach my main source (Dom), I was unable to post the page in my usually prompt way. MY BAD !!!!!

Baseball - Ambridge 8, Moon Area 4

AMBRIDGE - Chad Price collected a pair of hits and drove in four runs to lead the Bridgers to the top spot in the Section 8-AAA standings. Moon (7-5, 2-1) and Ambridge (6-3, 3-0) had both been undefeated in the section before Saturday's game. Steve Sylvester struck out three batters in 5 1/3 innings to earn the win.

Ambridge 8, Moon 4

MOON AREA - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 4 - 0 = 4 - 8 - 1

AMBRIDGE 3 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 1 - 2 - X = 8 - 8 - 2

Winner - Sylvestri (5 2/3 inns.) 3 strikeouts, 2 walks. Loser -Cimato (6 inns) 2 strikeouts, 3 walks. 2B - Manno (M), Sykes (M), Cimato (M), Besong (A), Price (A), 3B - none. HR - Nery (M), Schewsbury (A). 2-or-more-hits - Price (A) 2, Besong (A) 3, Nery (M) 3.

Blackhawk 9, Moon Area 8 - Thursday April 10, 2003

The Moon Area Tigers (7-4) and the Blackhawk Cougars squared off in another one of their classic barnburners. However, this time there was NO section, WPIAL, or PIAA title on the line. It was just an exhibition game between the two rivals. With Blackhawk moving down in classification and into a new section, this would be the only time these two teams would get to meet. It again was a classic worth watching. Both Moon and Blackhawk would use late inning rallys however the Cougars bested the Tigers, 9-8. It was the fourth time in the last five meetings between them that Blackhawk was victorious. Blackhawk beat Moon twice during the regular section season and in the WPIAL semifinals last year before the Tigers knocked off the Cougars in the PIAA Western final.

Blackhawk held a 8-6 lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning before Moon tied the game on a RBI double by Dom Manno and a sacrifice fly by Austin Sykes. In the top of the seventh, Blackhawk's Sean Conley, facing an 0-2 count, ripped a double to center field. Drew Aniceti's sacrifice bunt moved him to third before a sacrifice fly by Chris Fisher brought Conley home with the game-winner. In the bottom of the inning, Fisher proved why he is considered one of the top catchers in the WPIAL. After Moon's leadoff batter reached base, Fisher gunned him down at second base on an attempted steal. Austin Sykes and Nate Nery had two each for Moon.

Blackhawk 9, Moon Area 8

BLACKHAWK - 0 - 5 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 2 - 1 = 9 - 8 - 6

MOON AREA - 2 - 0 - 2 - 1 - 0 - 2 - 0 = 8 - 7 - 1

Winner - Joe Hoey (2 inns.) 3 strikeouts, 1 walks. Losing pitcher - Cimato (1 inns.) 1 strikeout. 2B - Sean Conley (B), Austin Sykes (M), Dom Manno (M). 2 or more hits - Conley (B), Sykes (M), Nate Nery (M)

Moon Area 7, West Allegheny 0 - Wednesday April 9, 2003

Tiger SR LHP Nathan Nery continues to dominate on the mound as he and Moon Area (2-0, 7-3) shutdown the high-powered offense of the West Allegheny Indians (0-1, 6-3). Nery (5-0, 0.00 ERA, 29 IP's, 62 K's) was masterful in his two-hit, 13 strikeout, complete game shutout of a WA team that was averaging nine runs and 11 hits a game. Nery also again contributed at the plate with two hits including a two run double in the 4th inning. Adrian Sykes also had a big game offensively for the Tigers with a pair of hits including a two run double in the first inning.

Baseball - Moon Area 7, West Allegheny 0.

WEST ALLEGHENY - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 = 0 - 2 - 0

MOON AREA - 3 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 0 - 0 - X = 7 - 8 - 1

Winner - Nathan Nery (7 innings) 13 strikeouts, 3 walks. Loser - Jon Leber (6 innings) 5 strikeouts, 4 walks. 2B's - Nery (MA), Adrian Sykes (MA), Nick Davis (MA). Two (2) or more hits - Nery, 2 (MA), Ad. Sykes, 2 (MA)

Nathan Nery, was named one of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Athletes Of The Week this week. Just click the following link to read the article. He becomes the second Tiger this week to be named to major papers ATHLETE OF THE WEEK AWARD.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Sports Article: PPG's H.S. Player of the Week : Nathan Nery

Austin Sykes, Tiger's senior CF, was named the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Athlete of the Week. Austin is hitting .515 with 16 RBI's. Congratulations, Austin !!!! Click this link to read the Trib's write up.

Pittsburgh Tribune Review Sports Article: Trib's H.S. Athlete of the Week : Austin Sykes

Moon Area 9, Plum 5 - Saturday April 5, 2003

Moon Area (1-0, 6-3) rebounded from Thursday's loss to highly ranked (PPG ; No.2) Shaler with a 9-5 exhibition win over another highly ranked (PPG ; No.3) Plum Mustangs (5-2) team. The game scheduled to be played at Plum was moved to Moon due to poor field conditions at Plum H.S. Tiger's SR RHP Dave Cimato pitched a masterful game, going the distance and striking out six Mustangs. Cimato also added a pair of hits including a double. The Tiger's offense was led by SR CF Austin Sykes who had three hits including two home runs and a double and drove in 4 RBI's. Adrian Sykes (2B), Jason Swalga (2B), Nate Nery (HR, second in last 2 games) and Mike Serretti each added two hits in this contest. Moon actually held a 6-1 lead going into the 5th inning.

Baseball - Moon 9, Plum 5

Moon 9, Plum 5

MOON AREA - 1 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 3 - 1 - 2 = 9 - 14 - 3

PLUM AREA - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 1 - 2 = 5 - 6 - 2

Winner - Dave Cimato (7 inns.) 6 strikeouts, 1 walk. Losing pitcher - Gary McGough (5 inns.) 2 strikeouts, 2 walk. 2B - Matt Pellis (PL), Jason Swalga (MA), Austin Sykes (MA), Adrian Sykes (MA), Cimato (P). HR - Austin Sykes (MA) 2, Nery (MA) 1. 2 or more hits - Austin Sykes (MA) 3, Swalga (MA) 2, Nery (MA) 2, Adrian Sykes (MA) 2, Mike Seretti (MA) 2, Cimato (MA) 2

Moon Area 12, Montour 0 - Friday April 4, 2003

The Moon Area Tigers and Nathan Nery devastated rival Montour 12-0 in their WPIAL Section 8-AAA 2003 opener on Friday afternoon. Nery tied Ed Storey with 18 strikeouts in a seven inning game. The Moon record for most strikeouts in a game (regardless of innings pitched) is Tommy Haskins in 1967 with 20 in an 11 inning game against Crafton. Haskins pitched all 11 innings in this 0-0 tie. Storey's mark was set in a 6-0 win over Quaker Valley on May 3rd, 1965. Nery also led the offensive barrage of the Spartans with three hits including a grand slam home run. Adrian Sykes added three hits also. Jason Swalga and Dom Manno each added a pair. The Tigers had 13 total hits and move to 1-0 in the section (5-3 overall). Check out the great story in the Times plus line score.

SPECIAL DELIVERY - SCOUTS SEE AN 18 STRIKEOUT PERFORMANCE BY NERY

Story written by Bill Utterback, Allegheny Times Sports Staff 04/06/2003

Beaver County Times Sports Article: Article about Nathan Nery against Spartans

Moon Area 12, Montour 0

MOON AREA - 0 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 3 - 4 = 12 - 13 - 2

MONTOUR - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 = 0 - 2 - 2

Winner - Nathan Nery (7 inns.) 18 strikeouts, 1 walk. Loser -Adam Smith (5 inns.) 6 strikeouts, 2 walks. HR - Nery (MA) 2 or more hits - Nery (MA) 3, Adrian Sykes (MA) 3, Jason Swalga (MA) 2, Dom Manno (MA) 2

Shaler 11, Moon Area 1 - Thursday April 3, 2003

The Tigers met up with the No.2 ranked Matulevic-less Shaler Titans today and it wasn't very pretty. Moon got ran over by a truck called Shaler. The final score was 11-1 in 5 innings. Tiger pitcher sophomore Matt Dowdell took the loss. Moon's only run came on a sacrifice fly by Adrian Sykes scoring his brother Austin from third. Austin had got on via a single. Dowdell had five hit batters, several passed balled and wild pitches which led to his demise. The Tigers only mustered three hits.

Baseball - Shaler 11, Moon Area 1

Shaler 11, Moon Area 1

MOON AREA - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 = 1 - 3 - 1

SHALER - 0 - 0 - 1 - 4 - 6 = 11 - 8 - 1

Winner - Bachman (4 inns.) 4 strikeouts, 4 walks. Losing pitcher - Dowdell (4 inns.) 2 strikeouts, 3 walks. 2B - Beaman (SH). HR -Cincotta (SH). 2 or more hits - Neiman (SH)

Moon Area 10, Beaver 0 - Friday March 28, 2003

Defending champ Moon rolls to win

MOON TWP. - After spending a week in Cocoa Beach, Fla., taking on some of the top competition on the east coast, the two-time defending PIAA Class AAA champion Moon Area High School baseball team was tanned and rested and made short work of Beaver, rolling to a 10-0 exhibition win.

Nathan Nery allowed just one hit and struck out 13 of the 16 batters he faced over five innings in the Friday game. Nery, who has accepted a scholarship to Stetson University, also helped his cause with a double and three RBIs.

Austin Sykes had a double and two RBIs, while Adrian Sykes added a triple. Bill Divis added two RBIs as Moon improved to 4-2 on the season.

Moon 10, Beaver 0

BEAVER - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 = 0 - 1 - 1

MOON AREA - 1 - 0 - 0 - 7 - 2 = 10 - 13 - 1

Winner - Nathan Nery (5 inns.) 13 strikeouts. Losing pitcher - Huttman (3 1/3 inns.) 3 strikeouts, 1 walks. 2B - Austin Sykes (M), Dom Manno (M), Nate Nery (M). 3B - Adrian Sykes (M). 2 or more hits - Austin Sykes (M), Adrian Sykes (M), Nery (M), Manno (M)

The Cocoa Expo games - Thursday March 20 - Tuesday March 27, 2003

Finally got all the scores from the trip to Cocoa Expo. The Tigers went 3-2 on the trip which was marred by a few days of solid rain. Moon had wins over Science Hill, 10-5,; N.V.Demarest, N.J., 6-5 and Santina Christian, 6-1. Tiger's losses were to Muscle Shoals, Ala., 10-0 in six innings and St.Frances, Minn., 9-8 in eight innings. Some of the pitching highlights included Nate Nery's win over Santina Christian. Nery had 19 strikeouts in 10 total innings pitched and allowed only one (1) UNEARNED RUN. In the offensive mode, Jason Swalga had 8 hits, Bob Francis and Nery had 6 hits each. My thanks to Dom Santeufemio and Joe Farquhar for providing the game information.

Nathan Nery listed as one of top recruits in Pennsylvania

Beaver County Times article (02/04/2003)

Two local high school baseball standouts have been listed among the top prospects in Pennsylvania by "Collegiate Baseball Magazine." Moon Area's Nathan Nery, a senior pitcher, was named as one of two of the state's best. Nery is a pitcher who has thrown key innings as the Tigers have won the last two PIAA Class AAA titles. Nery has accepted a scholarship to Stetson University. The other was Blackhawk High School's Chris Fisher, a senior catcher,was a key component in Blackhawk's journey to the WPIAL Class AAA championship last season.

Congratulations to Austin Sykes who signed his letter of intent yesterday (2/5) to play football at Miami of Ohio, an NCAA Division 1 college. Sykes is slated again to be the Tigers starting centerfielder and biggest offensive power hitter.

This page has been visited times.