One game.
That’s all that separates the North Penn Knights from an opportunity to play for a PIAA Class AAAA title, but awaiting the Knights in that game is a formidable opponent.
North Penn will face a North Allegheny squad that is hardly a stranger to big games in Monday’s state semifinal at Greene Municipal Park near Chambersburg.
“I know they have been in many finals – I think six state finals,” North Penn coach Bob McCreary said. “It’s a fabulous program. We have our hands full.”
North Allegheny is the 2009 WPIAL champion, and the Tigers also captured the District Seven title. In last Thursday’s quarterfinal round, North Allegheny needed nine innings to edge Pine-Richland 3-2. Sophomore Tanner Wilt notched the win in relief of starter Greg Piehler, who allowed just one run in six and two-thirds innings of work.
The Knights will undoubtedly face junior mound ace Ryan Oglesby, who was the winning pitcher in North Alleghany’s 9-0 win over Hollidaysburg in the opening round of the state tournament. Oglesby is 9-0 on the season for a Tiger squad that boasts a 23-2 record and brings a 13-game winning streak into Monday’s game.McCreary will give senior Mike Bradstreet the starting nod. He will face a squad that – according to North Allegheny’s web site – includes nine seniors who will be playing baseball at the collegiate level: Nick Butterini (College of Wooster), Brad Comport (Seton Hall), Jon Wilson (Maryland), Max Benner and Max Mellott (Penn State-Altoona), Jeff Dassner (Allegheny College), Jackson Boyd (Duquesne), Mike Zelik (Xavier) and Sean Oglesby (Slippery Rock).
“Anything can happen – just try and play better than they do on that day,” McCreary said.
The Knights boast an 18-6 record, and after a 6-5 start that included a three-game losing streak, they have won 12 of 13 games. Their only loss came in the district quarterfinals to eventual district champion West Chester East.
“I’m just very proud of them,” McCreary said. “They have come a long way.
“A lot of teams might have folded their tents losing three in a row, but they rose up, and they became a better team as a result. My hat’s off to them.”
The Knights, according to mound ace Eric Ruth, never lost their belief in themselves.
“Every year you can have a shaky three-game series,” he said. “We had to come out and battle the rest of the year. That’s how we got second in our league – we battled, and that’s how we got here.”
“This is big accomplishment for our team,” junior Jimmy Smith added. “We hit a road bump in the middle of the season, but we definitely overcame that.
“We got ourselves back in a groove again and just kept winning.”
On Monday, the Knights return to the home field of a Chambersburg squad they knocked out of the playoffs in the opening round of states.
Anchoring their lineup will be seniors Robbie Zinsmeister (shortstop), Justin Davey (center field), Scott Christy (first base), Matt Albaugh (catcher) and Christian Radick (right field).
North Penn’s trip to the state semis has erased some of the sting of last year’s first round exit from the state tournament when the district champion Knights, after opening up a 5-0 lead, fell to Hempfield 6-5.
“That’s in everybody’s head, and we want to make it to Altoona, so everyone is going to come out and play their game and hopefully, we’ll do our job,” Ruth said.
“The kids are very excited,” McCreary said. “They can’t wait.
“It’s a great experience for them.”
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