North Penn and Upper Moreland will be playing for state titles in their respective classifications on Friday at Penn State University. Upper Moreland will take on West York in the Class AAA game at 1:30 p.m., and North Penn will face Lower Dauphin in the Class AAAA title game at 6 p.m.
By Scott Huff
The destination for the respective PIAA baseball championships has been known for quite some time – Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on the campus of Penn State University on June 14, 2013.
The participants, however, just earned invitations on Tuesday. And for a pair of Suburban One League teams – the North Penn Knights of the SOL Continental Conference and the Upper Moreland Golden Bears of the SOL American Conference – the trek to State College was both a difficult and rewarding one.
North Penn earned a berth in the PIAA Quad-A championship contest to be played at 6 pm – and the Knights were perhaps the most unlikely of squads to get to the title game. North Penn barely earned its invitation to the District One tournament and was the 12th and final seed from the ‘North’ end of the district – and when district play ended the Knights were the 4th and final seed permitted to go to the state tournament.
However, North Penn became white-hot in state tournament play and swept its three games to earn its shot at a state title. A team that has no conference title (Central Bucks East won the SOL Continental) – no District One title (Coatesville captured that crown) – very well could earn a PIAA Quad-A state title with a win over Lower Dauphin.
Upper Moreland earned a berth in the PIAA Class AAA championship contest to be played at 3 pm – and the Golden Bears had to become road warriors to get to the title game. Upper Moreland was always considered a contender for a state title – but after a loss to Holy Ghost Prep in the District One final – the Bears were forced to win their state playoff games far, far from home.
Upper Moreland claimed a win in Northern York and a pair of wins at the Green Township Park near Chambersbug – not exactly a trip around the corner from Willow Grove. The trip to State College to play West York for the PIAA Class AAA state title will be a snap for the road tested Bears.
The long scholastic season that began in the preseason on March 22, 2013 – will finally end in the postseason on June 14, 2013.
And the hope is that both North Penn and Upper Moreland can return from Penn State University with a state title.
PIAA Quad-A State Championship Baseball Game
Friday – June 14, 2013 – 6 pm
@ Medlar Field – Penn State University
North Penn Knights vs. Lower Dauphin Falcons
Winner Gets: The winner of this game will hoist the trophy for the PIAA Quad-A state championship.
Season Resume: North Penn finished as the 3rd place finisher from the Suburban One League Continental Conference with a conference record of 9-5, while Lower Dauphin finished as the champion of the Mid-Penn Keystone Conference with a conference record of 12-2.
PIAA Quad-A District Playoff Resume: North Penn finished District One play with a #4 seed. The Knights opened district action with a 9-3 win over Conestoga and followed with wins over both Perkiomen Valley (8-3) and Strath Haven (5-0) to earn a state berth. North Penn lost a pair of district games when the Knights fell to Pennridge 4-3 and followed with a 4-1 setback to Council Rock North. Lower Dauphin finished as the District Three champion. The Falcons soared to wins over Cumberland Valley (3-2), Warwick (4-2), and JP McCaskey (6-2). Lower Dauphin earned the district title with a 1-0 victory over Exeter.
PIAA Quad-A State Playoff Resume: North Penn marched to the state title game with a 1-0 win over Parkland followed by an 11-1 mercy-rule victory over District One champion Coatesville. The Knights punched their ticket to the championship game with a 3-0 victory over Pennridge. Lower Dauphin opened state playoff play with a 9-3 win over Council Rock North and followed with a 12-1 mercy-rule victory over State College. The Falcons flew to the championship game with a 1-0 win over North Allegheny.
Players To Watch: North Penn features the strong right arms of seniors Brian Maher and Dylan Borwaski along with the talent of his batterymate Eddie Posavec. Brady West, Brad Bertucci, Chris Kersey, and Bobby Scott have all collected key hits this season for the Knights. Lower Dauphin showcases the talent to pitcher Blair Lewis and the hitting of Jake Schellenberger, Marshal Kiessling, and Kaylor Kulina.
Knight head coach Kevin Manero says: “This is a team that has battled through some adversity and plays with a great deal of heart and focus. This is a team that can play loose and have a lot of fun. They come into each game expecting nothing less than a win. There is only one team that finishes the postseason with a win – and we want that team to be us. We are not happy to just be there – we want that last win.”
PIAA Class AAA Championship Baseball Game
Friday – June 14, 2013 – 3 pm
@ Medlar Field – Penn State University
Upper Moreland Golden Bears vs. West York Bulldogs
Winner Gets: The winner of this game will hoist the trophy for the PIAA Class AAA championship.
Season Resume: Upper Moreland finished the regular season as the champion of the Suburban One League American Conference with a conference record of 13-1, while West York finished in first place of the YAIAA (York-Adams) Division 2 with a division record of 7-6.
PIAA Class AAA District Playoff Resume: Upper Moreland concluded District One play as the second place team in the district. The Golden Bears opened district play with a 12-0 victory over Marple Newtown and followed with an 8-1 win over Pottstown. Upper Moreland lost in the District One final to Holy Ghost Prep – 6-0, West York concluded District Three play as the third place team in the district. The Bulldogs opened district play with a 4-3 victory over Northeastern and followed with a 5-3 win over Shippensburg. West York lost in the district final to Greencastle-Atrim 5-3, but rebounded to earn a state berth with a 9-7 victory over Lampeter-Strasburg.
PIAA Class AAA State Playoff Resume: Upper Moreland advanced to the state championship with an opening round 4-3 walk-off win over Greencastle-Atrim and followed with a 4-3 walk-off win Punxsutawney. The Golden Bears punched their ticket to the championship final with a 3-1 victory over Keystone Oaks. West York advanced to the state championship game with an opening round 9-6 victory over Monsignor Bonner followed by a 2-0 win over Holy Ghost Prep. The Bulldogs punched their ticket to the championship final with a 5-4 walk-off victory over Abington Heights.
Players To Watch: Upper Moreland features the pitching of both Charlie Hooker and Eddie Decker and the offensive production of Rob Knox, Matt Kohn, and Pat Driscoll. West York showcases the pitching of Joey Prego and Carson Fries along with the hitting of Brett Kinneman, Evan Zinn, Sam Eyer, and Brandon Rauhauser.
Golden Bear head coach Ernie Rehr says: “I feel fantastic for these guys. For some of our seniors who have been starters for four years – this has been their goal. This sets the tone for the Upper Moreland baseball program. Words can’t express the admiration I have for these young men.”
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