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PIAA State Championships Preview

June 12, 2014

The PIAA state championship games will be contested on Friday, June 13th at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on the campus of Penn State University. The all-day affair will crown new champions in A, AAA, and AAAA, while Loyalsock Township aims to win back-to-back AA titles. Congratulations to all teams involved for tremendous runs to get to this point.

Medlar Field

class Aa: Central (Martinsburg) vs Loyalsock Township, 10:30am

Central Dragons (24-0)
Head Coach - AJ Hoenstine
Regular-season finish - (18-0)
District playoffs - 1-seed in District VI; W 9-0 vs 8-seed Ligonier Valley, W 12-2 vs 5-seed Forest Hills, W 5-1 vs 2-seed Bald Eagle Area
PIAA state tournament - W 4-1 vs District VII 3-seed Quaker Valley,  W 17-7 vs District X champ Franklin Area, W 14-2 vs District X 2-seed Northwestern

2015 RHP Mike Mock (11-0) and 2014 RHP Ethan Lewis (10-0) have carried the load on the mound for the Dragons. Mock, who carries a 0.67 ERA with 84 Ks in 63 innings of work will likely get the start.

The Dragons have outscored opponents by a lopsided 276-63 margin and have a team on base percentage of .515. 2014 SS Austin Cunningham leads a potent offense with a .507 average with 32 RBI and 36 runs scored as well as 24 stolen bases. Central loves to run the bases as evidenced by a whopping 102 stolen bases as a team in 2014.

Loyalsock Township Lancers (22-5)
Head Coach - Jeremy Eck
Regular-season finish - 15-5
District playoffs - 5-seed in District IV; W 16-6 vs 12-seed Wellsboro, W 3-1 vs 13-seed Montoursville, W 10-0 vs 1-seed Hughesville, W 7-4 vs 2-seed Bloomsburg Area
PIAA state tournament - W 6-1 vs District VI 2-seed Bald Eagle Area, W 4-0 vs District XI champ Notre Dame (Green Pond), W 4-3 vs District XII champ Neumann-Goretti

The Lancers are the lone team in the field of eight teams to reach the state finals that have a chance to repeat. The Lancers are the defending Class AA state champs and return much of the roster that won the 2013 title. The loss of 2015 RHP Luke Glavin, a Duke commit, led to some road bumps during the regular season but Loyalsock has won 14 consecutive games since sitting 8-5 in early May.

Loyalsock 2015 SS/RHP Kyle Datres went the distance in last year's state title game and could get the ball looking to repeat. Datres, a North Carolina commit, sits in the upper 80s with a power breaking ball. 2015 OF Jimmy Webb, a Wake Forest commit, has taken on a role on the mound following the loss of Glavin and give the Lancers an additional option.

class aaaA: Conestoga vs La Salle, 1:00pm

Conestoga Pioneers (20-5)
Head Coach - John Vogan
Regular-season finish - (14-4)
District playoffs - South 4-seed in District I; W 13-3 vs S12-seed Unionville, W 6-2 vs N1-seed Cheltenham, L 6-4 vs N7-seed Methacton, W 3-2 vs N4-seed Spring-Ford
PIAA state tournament - W 3-2 vs District III champ Cedar Cliff, W 10-0 vs District III 3-seed Red Land, W 3-2 vs District VII champ Seneca Valley

The Pioneers sport a lineup full of Division I prospects with seven seniors heading to the Division I ranks next fall. Add in 2015 LHP Brendon Little, a North Carolina commit, and the Pioneers have a wealth of talent.

Of the five losses Conestoga has suffered on the season two have come against teams making it to State College (12-5 to Harriton and 4-1 to Devon Prep).

La Salle Explorers (20-6)
Head Coach - Joseph Parisi
Regular-season finish - 14-4
District playoffs - 3-seed in District I; W 12-0 vs 6-seed Marple Newtown, W 6-1 vs 7-seed Pottstown, L 6-0 vs 1-seed Holy Ghost
PIAA state tournament - W 4-3 vs District III champ Greencastle-Antrim, W 4-3 (10 innings) vs District IX champ Punxsutawney, W 3-1 vs District VII third-seed Keystone Oaks

La Salle, the 2012 Class 4A state champs, had to rely on fellow Philadelphia Catholic League foe Neumann-Goretti for some help to earn a spot in the District XII championship game. Following two losses in the Philadelphia Catholic Tournament La Salle was in danger of not qualifying, but got in based on a points system when N-G topped Roman Catholic in two consecutive games.

Since that time the Explorers have won four consecutive playoff games to reach this point. Much of the credit can go to 2014 RHP Dom Cuoci, a St. Joseph's recruit, who shut out Spring-Ford in the state semifinals 3-0 in a game that was played in just 1 hour and 19 minutes.

class a: Devon Prep vs Elk County Catholic, 3:30pm

Devon Prep Tide (15-8)
Head Coach - Mark Aquilante
Regular-season finish - 10-8
District playoffs - 1-seed in District I; 1st round bye, W 12-0 vs 4-seed Jenkintown, W 7-0 vs 6-seed Calvary Christian
PIAA state tournament - W 8-5 vs District III 2-seed York Catholic, W 12-1 vs District IV champ Canton, W 4-0 vs District XI champ Schuykill Haven

At first glance the Tide's regular season record of 10-8 is unimpressive. However, when you factor in the loss of on the top 2014 pitchers in the state in Zach Schellenger (Seton Hall recruit) and a difficult schedule against quality big school opponents, it was clear that Devon Prep had the potential to make a run in the post season. The Tide is riding a six game win streak including a win over Class 4A finalist Conestoga.

Elk County Catholic Crusaders (26-0)
Head Coach - Father Eric Vogt
Regular-season finish - 20-0
District playoffs - 1-seed in District IX; 1st round bye, W 4-2 vs 9-seed Smethport Area , W 4-5 vs 5-seed DuBois Central Catholic, W13-3 vs 3-seed Cranberry Area
PIAA state tournament - W 3-2 vs District VII 3-seed Sewickley Academy, W 10-0 vs District VII runner-up Carmichaels, W 1-0 vs District VI champ Bishop McCort

The Crusaders finished the regular season with an unblemished 20-0 record and have extended their season long win streak with six wins in the playoffs. Pitching has driven the ECC success with 2014 RHP Brandon Schlimm, a St. Bonaventure recruit, leading the way at 10-0 with a 0.87 ERA.

The Crusaders due not lack for offense either. Dan Singer (.388, 21 RBI, 28 R), Ivan Wortman (.438, 28 RBI, 27 R), Jeff Wehler (.473, 25 RBI, 22 R) and Vincent Jacob (.434, 20 RBI, 34 R) have all drive in 20 runs or more.

class aaa: pope John paul ii vs Harriton, 6:00pm

Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers (22-6)
Head Coach - John Duffy
Regular-season finish - 16-6
District playoffs - 4-seed in District I; W 8-3 vs 5-seed Upper Moreland, W 3-1 vs 1-seed Holy Ghost Prep, W 3-2 vs 6-seed Harriton
PIAA state tournament - W 3-1 vs District III 2-seed West Perry, W 4-1 vs District III 3-seed Northeastern, W 1-0 vs District XI champ Tamaqua

It will be a rematch of the District 1 title game in which the Golden Panthers topped Harriton 3-2. Staff ace Josh Lafferty, a Widener recruit, is likely to take the hill for PJP. The Golden Panthers finished 2nd in the PAC-10 regular-season and were also runners-up in in the PAC-10 tournament.

In addition to Lafferty the Golden Panthers have several other college recruits in MIF James Bleming (Lehigh), RHP/1B Evan Myers (Seton Hill) and LHP Dan Zurowski (Misericordia).

Harriton Rams (17-8)
Head Coach - Scott Kurzinsky
Regular-season finish - 1st place in Mid-Penn Keystone Division
District playoffs - 6-seed in District I; W 4-3 vs 3-seed Interboro, W 10-0 vs 6-seed Lower Moreland, L 3-2 vs 4-seed Pope John Paul II
PIAA state tournament - W 9-8 vs District III champ Northern York, W 2-1 vs District VII 2-seed Blackhawk, W 5-2 vs District X champ Cathdral Prep

The Rams will have an opportunity to avenge a 3-2 loss to the Golden Panthers in the District I title game and will likely do so with 2014 RHP Corey Neel on the mound. Neel has been dominant in the post season holding Cathdedral Prep to just two 1st inning runs in a 5-2 semifinals win. Neel (Widener) and Max Bershad (PSU-Abington) lead a pitching staff that posted a 2.09 team ERA during the regular season.

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