PIAA BASEBALL: First-round playoff game previews
Jun. 4—Tickets for PIAA baseball first-round games are only available online through Hometown Ticketing at piaa.org. No tickets will be sold at the gate. Tickets are $8. Each ticket allows one person to enter the game. The only refund of this ticket price will be if the game is canceled. In the case that the game is postponed and rescheduled, hold on to your ticket, as it will be accepted at the rescheduled event.
CLASS 1A
2-1 Susquehanna (5-14) vs. 4-1 Northeast Bradford (9-10)
When: Monday, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Mansfield University
How they got here: Susquehanna defeated MMI Prep in the District 2 final, 2-0; Northeast Bradford beat Benton in the District 4 final, 2-1.
Players to watch:
Susquehanna
* — Travis Rooney .457, 6 RBIs, 3-2, 5.45 ERA, 42 K; William Marcy .364, 16 R, 14 RBIs; Tyler Rockwell .358, 16 R, 7 RBIs; Matthew Callender .353, 20 RBIs; Colton Stone .224, 3 RBIs, 1-8, 4.72 ERA, 53 K
Northeast Bradford
* — Clay Wiggins .370, 9 RBIs; Eli Stanton .303; Dillon Donnelly .302; Cayden McPherson 14 RBIs
The buzz: This is the first state tournament appearance for both teams. ... Northeast Bradford won its first District 4 title in the school's 68-year history, while Susquehanna claimed its first District 2 title. ... In the District 4 final, Ethan Hunsinger had the game-winning RBI single in the top of the seventh inning. Wiggins started for the Panthers and allowed one hit in 5.1 innings with five walks and four strikeouts. Josh Stanton pitched the final 1.2 innings to get the win. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh inning. ... Northeast Bradford has won four of its last five games. ... Stone threw a complete-game three-hit shutout with three walks and eight strikeouts for Susquehanna in the District 2 final. Marcy drove in both of the Sabers' runs. ... These teams were scheduled to play each other April 22 at a tournament hosted by Northeast Bradford. They played one inning before the game was rained out and cancelled. ... Blue Ridge is a common opponent. Northeast Bradford lost to the Raiders on April 8, 10-2. Susquehanna dropped both meetings with the Raiders in Lackawanna League Division III play, 7-0 and 11-0.
What's next: The winner advances to Thursday's quarterfinals against the winner of the first-round matchup between District 1 champion Dock Mennonite and District 11 champion Marian Catholic.
CLASS 2A
3-1 Kutztown (17-5) at 2-1 Elk Lake (19-4)
When: Monday, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Elk Lake High School
How they got here: Kutztown beat Halifax, 5-1, in the District 3 final; Elk Lake blanked Mountain View, 4-0, in the District 2 final
Players to watch:
Kutztown
* — Senior RHP Bryce Schafer, sophomore RHP Colten Mathias, senior C Nick Hugo, senior 2B Dominick Pizzelanti, senior SS Matt Remick, senior OF Dalton Furst
Elk Lake
* — Brayden McMicken .426, 27 R, 23 RBIs, 5-2, 2.35 ERA, 42 K; Isaac Gesford .375, 36 R, 3 HR, 27 RBI; Dawson Sherman .366, 23 R, 23 RBIs; Elias Owens .352, 25 R, 19 RBIs, 8-1, 1.19, 93 K
The buzz: Kutztown captured its sixth District 3 title and first since 2019. ... Schafer threw a complete-game five-hitter in the district final with two walks and five strikeouts. He lost the shutout bid with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. He also had two hits, including a home run. ... In the district semifinals, Mathias allowed one run on four hits with one walk and one strikeout in five innings in an 11-2 win over Newport. Hugo had three hits in that game and Pizzelanti added two hits. ... The Cougars have won eight straight. ... Kutztown is very aggressive on the basepaths. ... This is Kutztown's ninth PIAA appearance. ... Elk Lake is making its seventh PIAA appearance and first since 2003, which also is the last time it won a District 2 title. That year, the Warriors advanced to the PIAA Class 1A final, but lost to Bellwood-Antis, 2-1. ... Owens fired a one-hit shutout in the district final with two walks and seven strikeouts on 90 pitches. He also helped his cause with two hits, including a RBI double. ... Three of Elk Lake's four losses this season have been by one run.
What's next: The winner advances to Thursday's quarterfinals against the winner of the first-round matchup between District 11 champion Schuylkill Haven and District 4 runnerup South Williamsport.
CLASS 3A
2-1 Riverside (16-9) vs. 4-1 Hughesville (19-3)
When: Monday, 4 p.m.
Where: Bowman Field, Williamsport
How they got here: Riverside defeated Lake-Lehman, 8-5, in the District 2 final; Hughesville rallied to beat Central Columbia, 3-2, in the District 4 final
Players to watch:
Riverside
* — Jimmy Decker .463, 23 RBIs; Casey O'Brien .429, 31 R, 2 HR, 16 RBIs, 5-4, 1.83 ERA, 76 K; Trevor Balcerzak .344, 17 RBIs; Chase Taddonio .288, 6 HR, 20 RBIs; Patrick Higgins .282, 15 RBIs
Hughesville
* — Aiden Bartlett .411, 17 RBIs; Carter Cowburn .400, 10 2B, 2 HR, 18 RBIs, 4-1, 1.62 ERA, 61 K; Jackson Bower .364, 20 RBIs; Jediah Webb 6-0, 0.56 ERA, 33 K; Austin Gray 4-1, 1.89 ERA, 49 K
The buzz: Hughesville claimed the program's second District 4 title — the other came in 2013. The Spartans also won the Heartland Athletic Conference Division III crown for the first time in nine years. ... Cowburn and Gray combined on a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts in the district final and Bower had the go-ahead RBI single to cap a three-run bottom of the third after Hughesville fell behind Central Columbua, 2-0, in the top of the inning. ... Cowburn is headed to Manhattan College. ... Hughesville has won five straight. Its three losses have been by a combined four runs. ... Hughesville played Elk Lake in the season opener March 24 and won in nine innings, 1-0. ... Lake-Lehman is a common opponent. Hughesville beat the Black Knights, 6-4, on March 28, while Riverside beat them in the District 2 final. ... This is Hughesville's second PIAA appearance; the other came in 2013. ... Riverside is making its sixth PIAA appearance. ... The Vikings lost three of four to end the regular season, but have won three straight in the postseason. ... Freshman Nick Bohenek tossed five shutout innings in the district final, allowing three hits, walking two and striking out two. ... Riverside is familiar with Bowman Field. It played there in the first round of the state tournament in 2021 and defeated Sayre, 7-1.
What's next: The winner advances to Thursday's quarterfinals against the winner of the first-round matchup between District 11 champion Saucon Valley and District 3 runnerup Trinity.
CLASS 4A
12-2 Esperanza (7-5) vs. 2-1 Dallas (15-7)
When: Monday, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Lake-Lehman High School
How they got here: Esperanza lost to Archbishop Wood in the District 12 final, 22-0, in four innings; Dallas defeated Honesdale in the District 2 final, 11-0.
Players to watch:
Esperanza
* — Wanderson Severino .538, 9 RBIs; Juan Romero .364, 9 RBIs; Keirys Montero .321, 13 RBIs
Dallas — Joe Peters .551, 5 HR, 33 RBIs; Zach Paczewski .363, 2 HR, 13 RBIs, 32 R; Gavin Adamski .313, 23 R, 16 RBIs; Sam Barrouk 7-0, 1.96 ERA, 61 K
The buzz:
* Esperanza is making its ninth PIAA appearance. The Toros have yet to win a state playoff game (0-8). ... Dallas is making its fourth PIAA appearance. The Mountaineers were Class 4A champions in 2017. ... In the District 2 final, Barrouk hurled a complete-game one-hit shutout with one walk and five strikeouts on 90 pitches. Peters had three hits and three RBIs. ... Dallas started the season 10-2 with the two losses coming against Class 6A Hazleton Area. It then lost five of six, but has since won four straight.
What's next: The winner advances to Thursday's quarterfinals against the winner of the first-round matchup between District 4 champion Mifflinburg and District 3 runnerup Hanover.
* CLASS 6A
1-3 North Penn (19-5) at 2-1 Hazleton Area (18-4)
When: Monday, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Hazleton Area High School
How they got here: North Penn beat Plymouth Whitemarsh, 6-5, in the District 1 third-place game; Hazleton Area defeated Williamsport, 8-2, in the District 2-4 Subregional final.
Players to watch:
North Penn — Junior OF Henry Wetzel, junior 1B Ben Farley, senior P/DH Jack Picozzi, senior OF Mario Sgro, sophomore P Trevor Lugara
Hazleton Area — Brett Antolick, .508, 3 HRs, 35 RBIs, 6-0, 0.87 ERA, 67 K; Grant Russo .464, 33 R, 9 RBIs; Jordan Castrine 3-0, 0.97 ERA, 26 K; Chris Florentino .391, 4 RBIs; Jamie Martoccio .327, 14 RBIs; Dominic Marino .309, 16 RBIs
The buzz: North Penn is making its 11th PIAA appearance. The Knights are three-time Class 4A state champions (2009, 2013, 2015). ... In the district third-place game, Plymouth Whitemarsh rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh to tie, 5-5. But in the bottom of the seventh, sophomore Brady Dolder had the game-winning RBI single to score Piccozi. Wetzel was the winning pitcher in relief and also had a single, double and one RBI. Dolder and Farley each had two hits and sophomore Chase Jones had two RBIs. ... Farley, Picozzi, Sgro and Lugara are Suburban One League first-team all-stars. Wetzel and senior Justin Egner were second-team selections. Jones and Dolder received honorable mention. ... Hazleton Area is making its seventh PIAA appearance. ... The Cougars have won six straight since suffering back-to-back losses to Pittston Area and Central Dauphin. ... Antolick struck out 10 in six innings in the district subregional final against Williamsport. Marino had three hits and one RBI, Florentino and Martoccio two hits and two RBIs each. ... These teams met April 4 with North Penn winning, 3-1. They also faced each other in 2021 in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A tournament with North Penn winning, 3-1.
What's next: The winner advances to Thursday's quarterfinals against the winner of the first-round matchup between District 11 champion Liberty and the No. 5 seed from District 1 Avon Grove. — SCOTT WALSH
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