PIAA Class 6A Preview: Bensalem vs. Canon McMillan

Bensalem will continue its historic postseason run when it faces Canon McMillan in Friday’s PIAA Class 6A title game at Penn State University. Check back for photos and a game story.

The graduation ceremony for Bensalem High School’s Class of 2018 was held on Thursday night. When it was over, nine seniors – Keith Parrish, Brian Swentkowski, Gregory Janowski, Stephen Aldrich, Scott Rooney, Nicholas Fossile, Nickolas Kiesling, Jonathan Revell and Ed Aldrich – boarded a charter bus with their Owl teammates to take care of some unfinished business.

On Friday, the Owls will take on District 7 champion Canon McMillan at Penn State University’s Medlar Field in the PIAA 6A state title game.

“It’s just been a crazy run, including today,” coach Harry Daut said. “Our kids just got done graduating and then get on the bus, and now we’re on our way.”

What did Daut tell his team after Thursday’s final practice?

“Not a lot,” he said. “We just had a small hitting practice today. We went over a little bit of the itinerary.”

As for the two days since the Owls clinched their spot in the state title game with their come-from-behind 5-4 win over PCL power La Salle, it was pretty much business as usual for the squad.

“We tried to keep our routine the same,” Daut said. “The kids are excited, but we’re just trying to do everything the same we’ve been doing the last couple of months.

“They’re always loose – that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about because we’re a pretty loose team.”

While the team may be even-keeled during its historic postseason run, the community is not. The Owls are deservedly the talk of the town.

“The community has been great,” Daut said. “That’s been really amazing and outstanding. The whole school, the administration, the whole community has been behind us the whole way.”

The Owls entered the season with a talented pitching staff anchored by seniors Stephen Aldrich and Nick Fossile and junior Nick Dean.

“I thought we were going to be strong in the pitching department, which ended up being good, and I thought if we turned up the hitting a little bit, we’d win some games,” Daut said. “I did not expect us to be in the position we’re in now.”

Keith Parrish has made headlines with his dazzling catches in center field, and one player who has quietly been contributing is senior shortstop Brian Swentkowski, who bats leadoff for the Owls.

“He’s had a fantastic year, and he’s so underrated,” Daut said. “He just makes every play – he doesn’t look that great making plays, but he just makes every play. He’s really an unsung hero.

“He’s really a good shortstop. There are a lot of good shortstops in the Suburban One, but I would take him in a heartbeat over anybody.”

Friday's game promises to be an interesting one between a pair of teams looking to make history.

#1-1 BENSALEM vs. #7-1 CANON McMILLAN (Friday, June 15, 3:30 p.m., Penn State University, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park)
Canon-McMillan rode its ‘Everybody Love Everybody’ slogan to the program’s first ever trip to the state title game. Mound ace Zach Rohaley has just one loss over the past two seasons, and the Wheeling Jesuit commit was pulled from Tuesday’s 4-1 state semifinal win over Council Rock North after six innings. He was under the 75-pitch limit and is eligible to pitch on two days rest.

Canon McMillan is the first WPIAL champion in the large school division in 19 years to reach the state title game. Only three WPIAL champions in the large school classification have ever won the state title. North Allegheny was the last in 1996. The other two were Shaler (1980) and Penn Hills (1978).

Nick Dean threw two scoreless innings in relief in Bensalem’s 5-4 win over La Salle in Tuesday’s state semifinal, and the University of Maryland recruit, who threw 50 pitches, is eligible to pitch in Friday’s state title game on two days rest.

Bensalem

• 23-3 overall
• 10-2 SOL National Conference champions
• Captured the program’s first District One 6A title with 7-5 win over Council Rock North
• Pitching staff anchored by Monmouth commit Stephen Aldrich, University of Maryland recruit Nick Dean and Nick Fossile.
• Seniors Keith Parrish (center field), Brian Swentkowski (shortstop) and Jon Revell (left field) are also major contributors
• Winners of 10 straight

How they got here:  In Tuesday’s state semifinal, Bensalem rallied from a 4-1 deficit to earn a 5-4 win in eight innings over District 12 champion La Salle. Nick Fossile’s sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth plated the game winner. Nick Dean earned the win in relief.

In a state quarterfinal game, Bensalem defeated District 4 champion Williamsport 6-0. Nick Dean allowed just two hits in the complete game shutout, striking out nine and walking one. Brian Swentkowski, Keith Parrish and Stephen Aldrich led the Owls’ 11-hit attack with two hits and one RBI each.

In an opening round game, Bensalem edged District 11 runner-up Parkland 1-0 behind the complete game three-hit shutout of Stephen Aldrich. The senior standout struck out nine and did not walk a batter. Dominic Gray’s RBI single in the second turned out to be the game winner.

Canon McMillan

• 20-5 overall
• Defeated North Allegheny 2-1 to capture the program’s first WPIAL title
• Led by Wheeling Jesuit commit Zach Rohaley, who is 13-1 this year and 20-1 over the past two seasons combined.
• University of Michigan recruit Cam Weston bats cleanup and has a fastball that’s been clocked in the low 90s.
• Won 12 of last 13 games

How they got here:  In Tuesday’s state semifinal, Canon McMillan defeated District One runner-up Council Rock North 4-1. Zach Rohaley earned the win, allowing five hits – all singles – while striking out two and walking none in six innings.

In a quarterfinal game, Canon McMillan downed District 7 runner-up North Allegheny 6-3. Cam Weston earned his first win of the season, allowing two hits while striking out four and walking five in six innings. Weston also was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

In an opening round game, Canon McMillan edged District 3’s third place team, Dallastown, 2-1 with Connor Flaherty’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh giving the Big Macs the walk-off win. Zach Rohaley earned the complete game win, fanning 10.

Bensalem Roster