Pitcher Shane Hodapp and the Mercyhurst Prep baseball team had a memorable first week of the Region 3 season.
The Lakers opened with a 7-3 victory over Girard on Wednesday when Hodapp pitched five innings of two-hit ball. He struck out nine and allowed two runs.
Mercyhurst moved to 2-0 overall and in the region Saturday with a dramatic 1-0 victory over North East at Ainsworth Field. Hodapp improved to 2-0 as he tossed a two-hitter, striking out six and walking three. The only run came on Chris Henry’s inside-the-park homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
North East’s Eric Meehl (1-1) took the loss despite pitching a four-hitter. Henry's homer was the first run Meehl has allowed this season in 10 2/3 innings.
-- Jeff Kirik