Scott Huff previews Thursday’s PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinal baseball games featuring Council Rock South and Hatboro-Horsham.
By Scott Huff
The PIAA Quad-A state baseball playoffs are now down to the ‘Elite Eight’ as the tournament enters the quarterfinal round on Thursday.
The Suburban One League began with four teams engaged in the Sweet 16 tournament and both Council Rock South and Hatboro-Horsham emerged victorious in first round games. However, both Central Bucks South and Upper Dublin suffered opening round losses and were jettisoned from the tournament.
Both Central Bucks South and Upper Dublin made an appearance into the state tournament for the first time in school history. The Titans won a District One title and the Cardinals won a Suburban One League American Conference championship, but the competition at the state level was short lived.
CB South (1-1) lost a 6-4 contest to Central Dauphin (3-3) at Immaculata University, while Upper Dublin (1-4) dropped a 10-1 contest to La Salle (12-1) at La Salle University.
“Baseball is unique because a good team has a chance of losing on any given day, and I don’t think that happens as much in football or basketball,” said Central Bucks South head coach Mike Schaefer. “We have been playing great baseball, but we had one bad day and our season is over.”
“Unless you win the state championship game, you are going to lose your last game,” said Upper Dublin head coach Ed Wall. “We would have liked to have gone on deeper into the tournament, but it just didn’t happen.”
Victories did happen for both Council Rock South and Hatboro-Horsham – and both the Golden Hawks and the Hatters have sights set on taking that next step to the semifinal round.
Council Rock South (1-2) vs. Coatesville Red Raiders (1-5)
Thursday – 1 pm. - @ Spring-Ford High School
Council Rock South opened the PIAA Quad-A state tournament with a 6-2 victory over District 12 runner-up Frankford. The Golden Hawks finished the season as the Suburban One League National Conference champion and advanced to the District One playoff final. Rock South lost that district final to Central Bucks South – 2-0.
Council Rock South features a potent lineup that collects hits from the top of the lineup to the bottom. That lineup features Zac Fitzgerald, Brian Donnelly, Bret DeStefano, Jeff Miller, Zack Gross, Dan Callahan, Kane Price, Michael Chaykin, and Steve Wright.
Donnelly earned the win for the Hawks against Frankford, and senior Bret DeStefano will most likely get the ball from head coach Greg Young against Coatesville.
Coatesville opened the PIAA Quad-A state tournament with a stunning 5-1 victory over District 3 champion Cedar Crest. The Red Raiders finished the season as the fifth place team in the Ches-Mont League, but has been outstanding in the postseason. Coatesville earned the fifth and final District One playoff berth with a 9-5 victory over Central Bucks West.
The Red Raiders feature the talents of sophomore lefthander Brian Brown who had a remarkable outing in the win over Cedar Crest. Brown struck out 16 Cedar Crest hitters and issued just two walks. Jake Kennedy, TJ Mayo, Chris O’Hagen, Tom Struman, Clint Leslie, and Brady Cattas provide the offense for Coatesville.
Council Rock South and Coatesvillemet in the second round of the District One tournament, and the Golden Hawks soared to 10-0 mercy-rule victory. Rock South did not face Brown in that game, and will miss the southpaw in this game as well.
Council Rock South Greg Young says– “The seniors on this team have been waiting to play this game since June (when the Golden Hawks lost in the state quarterfinal to Spring-Ford). The goal was to get back here – and we will be ready.”
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (1-3) vs. Wyoming Valley West Spartans (2-1)
Thursday – noon - @ Parkland High School
Hatboro-Horsham opened the PIAA Quad-A state tournament with a 5-4 victory over District 11 champion Nazareth (11-1). The Hatters finished the regular season as the Suburban One League Continental Conference champion. Hatboro-Horsham advanced to the District One semifinal before losing to eventual district champion Central Bucks South.
The Hatters feature a wonderful pitching staff to go along with a team that scores runs late in games that result in victories. Showcased for H-H are Casey Saverio, Tyler Zingle, Chris Hens, Casey ODonnell, Zach Crim, Grant Opalinsky, Connor Crookham, and Zach Prendergast.
O’Donnell earned the win against Nazareth and senior Zach Prendergast will most likely get the ball from head coach Peter Moore.
Wyoming Valley West opened the PIAA Quad-A state tournament with a 9-2 victory over Penn Manor (3-2). The Spartans won their league title with a 16-1 record. Wyoming Valley West advanced to the state playoff with a 4-1 defeat of Scranton in the District 2 title game.
The Spartans – who have won 15 straight games – feature a blue-chip pitcher in Tommy Alexander. Alexander, though, will not be able to throw against Hatboro-Horsham. The # 2 pitcher for WVW is Matt Zielin who is a perfect 5-0 this season.
The Spartan offense is generated from Stephen Dosiak, Evan McCue, Ricky Stayer, and Joe Pechulis.
Hatboro-Horsham head coach Peter Moore says– “This team really believes that we are going to win every game. It doesn’t matter what happens early in the game, by the end of the game we are going to be winners.”
- Log in to post comments
