High school roundup: Knoch’s Zane Pacek throws 1st career varsity no-hitter; Butler pounds North Hills
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Butler's Nolan Stefaniak (14) delivers a pitch to North Hills in a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Nolan Stefaniak (14) delivers a pitch to North Hills in a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Kyle Casteel (23) slides safely to third past North Hills' Mason Metz (2) in a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Fans try to stay warm as Butler plays North Hills in a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Regan Peth (11) hits a single against North Hills in a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Trent Best (19) sticks his tongue out to the bench after scoring a run against North Hills in a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Trent Best (19) sticks his tongue out to the bench after scoring a run against North Hills in a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Owen Boring (7) slides safely into second base against North Hills in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Tanner Pry (25) brings the ball in as North Hills Jake Jorgensen (6) gets back to first base safely in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Baden Lenyk (1) tags out North Hills Jake Jurgensen (6) at second base in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Preston Richter (15) tries to out run North Hills Tristan Weimann (24)back to first base in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Preston Richter (15) tries to out run North Hills Tristan Weimann (24)back to first base in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Owen Boring (7) cheers on his team against North Hills in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Kyle Casteel (23) celebrates a run with Boden Lenyk against North Hills in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Trent Best (19) puts up number one after defeating North Hills in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Nash Coffman (21) tries to make a catch against North Hills in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Maverick Clement (5) hits the ball against North Hills in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Preston Richter (15) slides under North Hills Austin DeMartino (13) in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Pitching coach Matt Clement talks to his pitcher and catcher against North Hills in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Preston Richter (15) makes the catch on a pop up to center field to end the game against North Hills in a baseball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at North Hills High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch’s Zane Pacek hurled a no-hitter as the Knights downed Greensburg Salem 7-0 in baseball action Monday. He struck out four while walking three to earn the home win at No Offseason Russelton.
It marked Pacek’s third career no-no, but his first on the high school level. The first time through the order, he knew the Lions were a high-contact team.
“With my confidence, I’m just thinking, ‘I’m going to go one time through the order, see what they’re hitting, see what they’re not hitting, see what my pitches are like and what the umpire’s zone is,’” Pacek said.
With that approach, he realized his opponents weren’t putting the bat to the ball very hard. He stuck to his fastball, mixing in curveballs and changeups every now and then.
“They didn’t really do much with it,” Pacek said.
Cody Stull hit a home run and totaled three RBIs in the decisive Knoch (3-3, 1-0 in section) victory.
Butler 12, North Hills 2 — Nolan Stefaniak struck out eight in a five-inning win Monday night.
The Golden Tornado (4-0, 1-0) scored 10 runs in the first two innings and have now won four games to begin their season by a combined 33-10. The two teams play again 7 p.m. Tuesday at Slippery Rock University.
Slippery Rock 12, Franklin 4 — Jacob Kunsman had three hits for the Rockets, including a triple, and registered three RBIs. Austin Kura had two more hits and a pair of runs driven in.
The Rockets (2-0) face Conneaut on Wednesday.
Beaver 3, North Catholic 0 — Kennedy Brown’s 12 strikeouts in seven innings on the mound weren’t enough for the Trojans.
Central Catholic 7, Seneca Valley 6 — The Raiders (2-3, 0-1) have lost three of their last four outings. No other stats were available.
Mars 5, New Castle 4 — The Planets move to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in section play. No other stats were available.
Seneca Valley downed Norwin 3-2 as Lexie Hames and Lauren Folino both roped doubles. Hames struck out 19 in the circle and allowed three hits and no earned runs for the Raiders (4-0, 2-0).
Beaver 3, North Catholic 0 — The Trojanettes (4-1, 1-1) suffered their first loss of the season.
Mars 30, Knoch 2 — No further details were provided.
Kyler Robinson had a 24-serve run as Mars swept Hopewell. The Planets won by scores of 25-15, 25-9 and 25-17.
