LAURELDALE —
— Pitching and defense carried Pius X to the state baseball semifinals.
Slips in both areas cost the Royals a chance to play for a state title.
Starter Anthony Martino struggled with his command and the Royals committed an early error that helped District One champion Christopher Dock open a four-run lead through two innings. District 11 champion Pius got the potential go-ahead run to the plate in the sixth but could not complete its comeback, falling 4-2 to the Pioneers in a PIAA Class A semifinal Monday evening at Muhlenberg High School.
Christopher Dock (19-3 overall) used its 16th straight win to advance to Friday's PIAA Class A title game, where it will face District 7 champion Serra Catholic. Pius ended its season 17-6, winning the first District 11 title in program history along the way.
Martino (6-1) could not replicate his success from his first state start, when he held District 4 champion Sayre to one unearned run over seven innings. He allowed four runs and three hits while walking five in three innings to suffer his first loss this season. Four of his walks came in the first two innings, when he allowed all four of his runs and threw 60 pitches.
Christopher Dock catcher Ryan Seiz, a Louisville recruit, had two hits, scored a run and drove in a run in the first two innings. He finished 3-for-3 with an intentional walk and three stolen bases. The Pioneers went 6-for- 6 on stolen-base attempts.
Alex Summers and Drew Mininger added sacrifice flies in helping the Pioneers build their lead.
The Royals spent the rest of the day trying to claw back but squandered most of their chances.
Pius left the bases loaded in the second and failed to score in the third with its 3-4-5 hitters up after Brandon Reichart walked the first two batters. The Royals left two more runners on in the fifth when Reichart whiffed cleanup hitter Scott Douglas on three pitches.
Pius broke through in the sixth, scoring two two-out runs thanks to back-to-back errors by Christopher Dock's infield. Reichart then had to face Justin Mazza with runners at second and third but whiffed him on three pitches, preserving a two-run cushion. Reichart struck out seven and walked five in his complete-game win.
Pius X0000020—252
Christopher Dock220000x—444
Martino, O'Connor (4) and Labar; Reichart and Seiz.
From The Morning Call
On this page I will have all information on sports events from Nazareth High School and all other sports events in the country. I will also have news about myself and other people.
No comments:
Post a Comment