North Penn fell to District 12 champion Father Judge in Tuesday’s PIAA 6A semifinal contest. Photos provided courtesy of Keith Clemens Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f1073113899
District 1 6A semifinal
#12-1 FATHER JUDGE 4, #1-3 NORTH PENN 1
One win separated the Knights from a trip to the PIAA 6A state final, but a talented Crusader squad made sure that win didn’t happen, breaking a 1-1 tie with the go-ahead run in the third. They sealed the Knights’ fate with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the sixth and will be heading to Penn State on Friday to take on District 7 champion Mt Lebanon.
“I think the further you go, the tougher a loss is,” NP coach Kevin Manero said. “But this was a pretty incredible group who turned things around from last year faster than probably any of us could have expected, so one loss stings, but 21 wins is pretty special. Today we just didn’t get the big play at the right time and didn’t get the breaks – that’s baseball.”
The Knights- a year removed from a 6-10 SOL season – were led by a handful of seniors.
“We had some seniors really step up and lead the way in the postseason, and it’s pretty cool to see how they performed in these big moments,” Manero said. “Justin Egner had an injured shoulder but was ready to go through ten walls to get to State College.
“Jack Picozzi’s performances on the mound and at the plate were Herculean. James Mangine turned into a big-time player right before our eyes. And Mario Sgro took extra bases off the board with his center field play every game. What a pleasure to see how they rose to the occasion.”
While a senior core provided leadership, this year’s success was a team effort with players understanding – and filling – their roles, both large and small.
“Today a teacher told me she was talking to a couple of our guys who don’t play much, and she said whenever they’d talk baseball with her, they’d say, ‘We’re ready- we’re all ready whenever we’re called,’” Manero said. “She really admired how all in they were even though they don’t get on the field much. That kind of team first mentality was so prevalent on this team. It’s a very big part of why we made it to a state semifinal.”
In the top of the first, Father Judge turned a single and walk into a 1-0 lead, but the Knights answered in the bottom of the inning. Picozzi hit a one-out single, and with two outs, Chase Jones drew a walk, setting the stage for a clutch RBI single to left field by Ben Farley.
The Knights had an opportunity to take the lead in the second. With one out, Brady Dolder doubled to left field, and one out later, Egner lined a single to center, but the Knights stranded runners on second and third.
In the third inning, Jones doubled to center with one out and moved up to third on a groundout but got no further.
The Crusaders added a pair of runs in the sixth, benefitting from a two-out error. In the bottom of the inning, Kevin Brace collected a two-out single, but he was the Knights’ final baserunner. Father Judge ace David Rodriguez, a St. John’s commit, put the finishing touches on the win with a 1-2-3 seventh.
“At the end of the day we are still young,” Manero said. “(We had) four sophomores in the lineup at pitcher, catcher shortstop and second base of all places. That never happens at North Penn, and if it does, it would be tough to imagine that team getting this far. If they have anything to say about it, I think we will be back here sooner than later.”
Trevor Lugara absorbed the loss, allowing just two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. Henry Wetzel closed out the game.
“We have great kids, great parents, great families… we’re a lucky bunch of coaches to work with all of them,” Manero said. “And our assistant coaches- well, I can’t imagine working with anyone else. They are the best.”
North Penn closed out its successful season with a 21-6 record overall (13-3 SOL) and the SOL Colonial Division title.
Father Judge 101 002 0 4-11-1
North Penn 100 000 0 1-6-1
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