Playing at home for the final time this season, Matt Leonard threw a complete game four-hit shutout and Seth Baldensperger went 4-for-4 with three RBIs as the Dragons dismantled Sharon 10-0 at Legion Field on a picture perfect Saturday afternoon.

“Nothing better than playoff baseball, especially at home,” Baldensperger said.

The Dragons (16-4) now get Meadville, which was a 10-0 winner over Strong Vincent, Wednesday at Ainsworth Field in Erie (4 p.m.).

But first things first, literally, as Warren took control in the first inning and never looked back.

Warren’s Braidy Blair, right, celebrates with teammate Colby Johnson after crossing home plate in the third inning of Saturday’s District 10 Class 4A first round playoff game against Sharon.

Leonard surrendered two of his four hits in the opening frame, but induced a flyout to Austyn Cummings in right to end the threat.

The Dragon bats, which have been scorching the second half of the season, went to work against Sharon lefty Joe Faber early and often.

Leadoff hitter Derek Knapp was hit by a pitch and Cummings hit a hard single up the middle, bringing up Baldensperger.

The senior delivered his first hit of the afternoon, a run-scoring single to get the Dragons on the board.

“Not getting overanxious at the plate,” Baldensperger said about his approach. “I think I struggled with that at the beginning of the year. Lately I’ve just been trying to do my part and get base hits for the team.”

Warren’s Aidan Morrison connects on an RBI single during the fourth inning of Saturday’s playoff game against Sharon.

Team being the key word, something coach Rick Eaton has been stressing as the key to success. The Dragons got contributions up and down the lineup on this day, with hitters three through seven – Cummings, Baldensperger, Aidan Morrison, Nate Betts and Lance Baldensperger going a combined 11-for-17 with seven RBIs.

Morrison followed Seth Baldensperger with an infield single, Betts came through with an RBI fielder’s choice and Lance Baldensperger an RBI single to make it 4-0 after one.

“It was just another team effort,” Eaton said. “Everybody’s hitting the ball.”

The offense continued to roll in the second and third frames.

Cummings ripped an RBI triple into the gap and Seth Baldensperger drove him in with a single to make it 6-0 after two.

Warren right fielder Austyn Cummings get set to catch a fly ball.

In the third, Betts and Lance Baldensperger led off with back-to-back singles, with Betts coming around to score on an error. Knapp followed with a single and another error allowed Baldensperger to cross home and make it 8-0.

“We’ve seen that lefty from Vincent (Ryan Smerkar) who kind of has the same arm release so I think that helped us out a lot,” Baldensperger said.

That was more than enough for Leonard. He struck out two, keeping the Tigers’ batters off balance all afternoon, facing just three 3-ball counts all game, with his infield turning a pair of double plays.

“My fastball was working and I was able to change speeds well,” Leonard said. “My curveball was working well, I was able to get a couple of groundouts from that and got a strikeout on my change-up.”

Leonard also noted the good rapport he has with Morrison behind the plate, as well as the rest of the defense behind him.

Warren third baseman Mitch Grosch fires to first for an out during Saturday’s playoff game against Sharon.

“All of us have been playing together since we were in little league, eight-years-old,” he said. “That’s very big. We’re comfortable with each other and know how each other plays. If someone’s not playing well, we pick each other up.”

Leonard got stronger as the game went on, not allowing a baserunner in the final three innings.

Conversely, the Dragons scored in every inning but one.

Seth Baldensperger doubled with one out in the fourth and Morrison drove him in with a base hit to make it 9-0.

The Dragons ended the game in the sixth with who else but Baldensperger. He drove in Colby Johnson to invoke the 10-run rule and send the Dragons to a quarterfinal date with Meadville.

Warren second baseman Derek Knapp starts a 4-6-3 double play.

“Our philosophy has been don’t walk them, make them hit the ball and we’l lmake enough plays and score enough runs to win the ball game,” Eaton said. “That’s what we hope to continue doing.”

Warren and Meadville met in the Dragons’ season opener on March 29, a 6-2 Warren win. The other quarterfinal games on Wednesday pit Slippery Rock vs. Oil City (4 p.m. Slippery Rock University, the winner will get Warren-Meadville winner), Harbor Creek vs. Grove City (Ainsworth, approx. 6:30 p.m.) and General McLane vs. Hickory (Slippery Rock University, approx. 6:30 p.m.).

– – –

SHARON (0)

Nichols RF 3-0-0-0, Wiesen SS 3-0-1-0, McClimans LF 3-0-1-0, Dellibovi DH 3-0-2-0, Piccirilli 1B 0-0-0-0, Zajac 2B 2-0-0-0, Sadowski PH 1-0-0-0, Connelly CF 1-0-0-0, Volpe C 2-0-0-0, Faber P 1-0-0-0, Hoover PR 0-0-0-0, Voytik 3B 1-0-0-0, Augustine PH 1-0-0-0, Totals 21-0-4-0

WARREN (10)

Knapp 2B 3-1-1-0, Johnson LF 4-2-0-0, Cummings RF 4-2-2-1, S. Baldesnperger DH 4-2-4-3, Grosch 3B 0-0-0-0, Morrison C 3-0-2-1, Balas CR 0-0-0-0, Betts SS 3-1-1-1, L. Baldnesperger CF 3-1-2-1, Leonard P 3-0-0-0, Blair 1B 2-1-0-0, Totals 29-10-12-7

Sharon 000 000 – 0

Warren 421 101 – 10

2B – S. Baldensperger (W); 3B – Cummings (W); WP – Leonard; LP – Faber

– – –

IP H R ER

BB SO

Sharon

Faber (L) 3 9 8 5 1 2

Schaffer 2.2 3 2 1 0 0

Warren

Leonard (W, 6-1) 6 4 0 0 2 2

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