By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

The Lancaster-Lebanon League tournament wrapped up Thursday evening with the title game contested at Clipper Magazine Stadium in downtown Lancaster. The championship is the culmination of a four day tournament that forces the teams in the finals to use at least three starting pitchers over four days’ time.

Lancaster Catholic (20-3), ranked #8 in the PBR 3A state rankings, came into the title game having beaten Warwick and Manheim Central. Hempfield (18-5), ranked #11 in the PBR 4A state rankings, had knocked off Anville-Cleona and Solanco in order to reach the finals.

A host of highly ranked college recruits and prospects were on display with the middle of the Lancaster Catholic lineup doing the heavy lifting for the championship. The Crusaders started the scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning when NJIT recruit Bryan Haberstroh singled with one out to put runners at first and second. Willie Burger, ranked No. 12 in the PA Class of 2015, followed with a double to left scoring both runners.

The middle of the Crusader order continued to do damage in the 3rd inning as the lead swelled to 4-0. Longwood recruit Mac McCafferty got things started with a solo home run to right field, his 6th of the season. Haberstroh then scored on a single from California of PA recruit Joe Yourgal later in the inning.

After Hempfield sliced the lead in half with two runs in the 4th, the Crusaders put the game away with five runs of their own in the bottom of the 5th.

McCafferty, Burger and Tom Mattaini had two hits each to lead the Crusaders 10 hit attack. Hempfield had 10 hits as well with Jon Peterson, Chris Schroll and Michael Hernandez each collecting two. Pitt recruit Nick Yarnall, ranked No. 6 in the PA Class of 2013, went 1-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and two walks. UNC-Wilmington recruit Cory Gantz was 1-for-4.

Hempfield, which was ranked #1 in the PBR 4A state rankings early in the season, dropped out of the rankings after a rough stretch that saw them lose three games in a week in early April. The losing streak coincided with the loss of their starting shortstop and West Virginia recruit Shaun Corso to season ending shoulder surgery. The Black Knights rebounded by winning 13 of their next 14 games prior to last night's loss.

Both teams will now gear up for the District 3 playoffs which are scheduled to begin on May 20.

• PA - May 17, 2013
  PA Playoff Blog
• PA - May 16, 2013
  Roundup of WPIAL 2nd Round Action