Westmont Hilltop bleaches United in District 6-2A baseball playoffs

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – This week has been a big one for the top of Brady Gartner’s head.

Friday, after a 7-0 win over United in the District 6 Class 2A playoffs at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point, the right-handed hurler was given an electric yellow hardhat adorned with the school’s athletic logo to wear.

It was a postgame reward to acknowledge his efforts over six innings on the mound where he allowed just two United hits and fanned six batters.

It was the second time during the week that things got a bit brighter on his scalp.

Gartner, along with the rest of the Hilltoppers squad, opted for a bleached-blond look with the postseason approaching.

“Anthony Oakley said something about the blond hair,” Gartner, who also collected two hits – both doubles – and a run batted in, said. “So we just did it as a team-bonding thing.”

Committing to the new style was a long process for the Hilltoppers.

“Three days,” Gartner said.

“Three full days. We were there six hours each day. It takes a while.”

While the Westmont Hilltop coaching staff has yet to join the hair trend, coach Chris DelSignore has no objections to the team’s new universal look.

“We had a couple of seniors that wanted to do it and they just had buy-in from everybody,” DelSignore said. “But hey, whatever keeps them loose.

“They’re a good group.

“They’re a tight-knit group of guys and whatever it is to keep everything loose and keep it fun, because that’s what we’re here to do: Have fun and win.”

And when exactly will the coaches go blond?

“We’ve got a few more wins to rack up until that happens,” DelSignore said, “but it’s nice to get that first one.”

After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, Westmont Hilltop (12-7) struck for its first run as Landen Valente poked a flare into center to bring in Gartner with one gone in the second.

The Hilltoppers added two more in the third as Dom Chiodo’s sacrifice fly to center plated Justin Ray a batter before Gartner doubled in Jack Wesner on a 2-1 pitch.

The third-seeded Hilltoppers nibbled out another run in the fourth when Ray’s sacrifice to left chased in Sully Wier.

Dom Byer and Wier each supplied RBIs in the fifth inning before Wier scored on a throwing error on Bryce Goodman’s infield single.

United, which finished the season at 11-10, got its hits from Braden Butler with one out in the second, and Brendan James with two gone in the sixth.

The Lions’ hardest-hit ball came a batter before James’ single when Dmitri Worthington lined out to Goodman at first base.

It was just that type of afternoon for United.

“(Gartner) did a really good job,” Lions coach Doug McNulty said. “He was effective with three pitches, and we were up against the 8-ball with that.