PIAA Class 6A Semifinal Preview: Pennsbury vs. Liberty

06/12/17 1:07am Posted by editor

 

Pennsbury will face District 11 champion Liberty in Monday’s PIAA Class 6A semifinal at Boyertown High School. Check back for a game recap.

Pennsbury and Liberty will square off in a PIAA Class 6A semifinal game on Monday at Boyertown High School. The two teams both have 13 seniors on their rosters. Both won district titles but weren’t the top seeds entering districts.

All four teams remaining are district champions with the other state semifinal pitting District 3 champion Dallastown against #District 6 champion State College. That game will take place at Hershey High School on Monday at 4:30 p.m.

The two winners will meet in the state title game on Friday at Penn State University (3:30 p.m.).

#1-1 PENNSBURY vs. #11-1 LIBERTY (at Boyertown High School, 12 noon)
Pennsbury

  • 20-6 overall
  • 10-2 SOL National Conference champions
  • District One 6A champion after entering tournament as the fourth seed
  • Falcons have shut out opponents seven times and have been shut out just twice
  • Offense led by senior Tyrone Hodges, sophomore Justin Massielo, senior Dave Murphy and senior Vaughn Ward
  • Pitching staff led by seniors Billy Bethel, Nick Price and Ryan McCarty   
  • Take an 11-game winning streak into Monday’s state semifinal.

How they got here: 

  • In a state quarterfinal, Pennsbury defeated #1-4 Perk Valley 3-0 behind the five-hit complete game shutout of Ryan McCarty. Dave Murphy and Billy Bethel each drove in a run.
  • In a state opening round game, Pennsbury downed #11-2 Parkland 2-1 in 11 innings, earning the walk-off win on Ryan McCarty’s sacrifice fly. Nick Price threw two shutout innings to earn the win. Billy Bethel and Nate Derry also turned in strong performances on the mound.
  • In the District One 6A title game, Pennsbury defeated #6 North Penn 5-3. Ryan McCarty earned the win, allowing eight hits and two runs in six innings while striking out two and walking one. The Falcons, who had just five hits, took a lead they would not lose in a four-run fourth.
  • In a 2-0 district semifinal win over #8 Neshaminy, Billy Bethel tossed a complete game three-hit shutout, striking out three and walking none. Kyle Dear, who was 1-for-2 with a double, drove in both runs.
  • Pennsbury defeated #12 Downingtown East 5-4 in a district quarterfinal contest. The Falcons trailed 4-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh when they exploded for five runs, winning it on Ryan McCarty’s walk-off RBI single. McCarty had two of his team’s three hits. The Falcons benefitted from seven free passes and a pair of Cougar errors. Nate Derry, who pitched a scoreless seventh, earned the win.
  • In a second round district game, Pennsbury defeated #13 Central Bucks East 4-2. John Tesarck, who doubled, drove in a pair, and Justin Massielo was 3-for-3 with an RBI.

Liberty

  • 25-3 overall
  • Lost to Parkland in EPC championship game
  • District 11 champion, first district title since 2007
  • Team batting average of .327
  • Led by seniors Jared Burcin (.440, 11 doubles, 3 triples, 29 RBIs), Elias Gross (.370, 22 RBIs, 16 runs), Sam Kriahanzel (.362, 31 RBIs), Jake Unangst (.349, 11, RBIs, 22 runs), Kyle Hlavaty (.348, 15 RBIs, 35 runs, 12 SB), Gabe Albino (.329, 18 RBIs, 19 runs) and Jake Wagner (.323).
  • Hurricanes have stolen 55 bases
  • First trip to the state semifinals since 2002
  • Won 17 of 18 games entering Monday’s state semifinal, winning five straight since falling to Parkland in EPC title game – a loss that snapped a 12-game winning streak.

How they got here:

  • In a state quarterfinal contest, Liberty defeated #12-1 Frankford 8-0 behind the complete game two-hit shutout of Alex Laudenslager. He struck out six and walked none. Offense sparked by two-run double from Jared Burcin and Gabe Albino.
  • In a state opening round game, Liberty edged #3-2 Governor Mifflin 5-4. Sophomore Antonio Zabala delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to give the Hurricanes the walk-off win.
  • In Liberty’s 2-1 win over top-seeded Parkland in the district title game, sophomore Caleb Tereska delivered an RBI single in the ninth inning that plated Gabe Albino, who tripled. Sam Kraihanzel threw 5.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.
  • In a district semifinal game, Liberty defeated #6 Emmaus 4-3 in 11 innings. Elias Gross delivered an RBI single in the 11th for the walk-off win.
  • In a district opening round contest, Liberty silenced #7 Nazareth 4-0 behind the three-hit shutout of Alex Super. Elias Gross drove in a pair of runs.
0

Connect with Us!