Personal Best reaches playoffs, beats Hite, 8-3

From Staff Reports

LAVALE — LaVale Personal Best had to endure a trying last week of the season by playing every day from Monday through Friday. They began the week at 5-6, but won four of the five games — culminating with a 8-3 victory over Hite Roofing on Friday — that ensured the team a spot in next week’s playoffs.

Ryan Buzzard hit a two-run single in the first inning that gave LaVale the first lead. The third inning saw Personal Best score five runs and put Hite Roofing in a big deficit early.

Cole Dudiak belted a two-run double in the LaVale third, and brother Cade came through with the first of two RBI singles. Zac Hare also drove in a run with a base hit in the third. Cade Dudiak hit his second RBI single in the sixth inning that scored his team’s final run.

Tyler Smearman tripled twice and added a double for three of Personal Best’s 12 hits, while Jeremy Sneathen finished with a pair of singles.

Grant Riggleman led Hite with a double and a single. Justin Munson also had two hits, both singles, and John Taylor and Dave Levine each hit an RBI single in the seventh inning.

Taylor finished with 11 strikeouts in six innings despite allowing 12 hits and eight runs.

Personal Best (9-7) will play WEPCO FCU on Monday, in Westernport, in the first game of their best-of-three playoff series.