Springfield-Montco falls to Selinsgrove in PIAA 4A quarterfinals
CARROLL >> Springfield-Montco’s near record-setting run through states came to an end under the most unlikely of circumstances.
“They haven’t played that poorly in the field all year, and (defense) has usually been a godsend for us, got us where we are,” said Spartans coach Dennis Primavera after Thursday’s quarterfinal game with Selinsgrove. “But that’s baseball. I wanted to win for our seniors. What a great bunch of guys. And they stuck together the whole season, and that’s why we got where we are.”
The Spartans scored three first-inning runs but three errors and some other defensive miscues were too much to overcome in a 6-3 loss to the Seals in the PIAA 4A quarterfinals at Northern High School.
“They shut us down the rest of the way,” Primavera said of his team’s early burst. “We couldn’t find a way to get it done. Hats off to (Selinsgrove).”
After an RBI single by Teague Hoover pushed the Seals ahead 1-0 in the top of the first, Springfield scored its three runs in the bottom half. The first run scored on an error and then Brian Murphy sliced a double to left to drive in two more, making it 3-1.
The Seals cut into the lead in the second, with Ryan Reed (double) racing home on an error. In a bizarre sequence, starter Jackson Campbell’s pitch went behind hitter Evan Hoke, but the ball still hit the top of the bat and rolled into play.
The throw to first was high, allowing Reed to score and make it 3-2.
Selinsgrove tied it in the third on a wild pitch and then went up 4-3 when Reed drew a bases-loaded walk. Evan Hoke’s timely single knocked in a pair and made it 6-3 that same inning.
Seals right-hander Blaise Zeiders settled in, blanking Springfield in his last four and two thirds innings of work.
“In the first two innings, I threw almost 50 pitches, and I was like ‘wow, this is looking rough,’” said Zeiders, who went five and two thirds innings for the win, allowing one earned run off of seven hits, striking out five and walking two. “Warming up, it was the best I felt all year. I really cut down on the pitches after (the second). I had been trying to figure out my curveball all season and today I felt like I had good control of it and I was keeping them on their toes.”
The Spartans loaded the bases with one out in the fifth but Zeiders got the final two outs he needed. Max Perry’s single in the sixth provided Springfield its only base runner in the final two innings.
Murphy had a nice game for the Spartans, going 3-for-4, but Seals reliever Ryan Reich managed to win a final showdown in the seventh, striking out Murphy to end the contest.
Selinsgrove advances to Monday’s semifinals against Hamburg. Springfield Montco was able to advance to the state quarters for the third time in its history, tying the school record.
PIAA 4A Quarterfinals
Selinsgrove 6, Springfield Montco 3
Selinsgrove 114 000 0 — 6 8 2
Springfield 300 000 0 — 3 7 3
WP: Blaise Zeiders (52/3IP, 3R, 1ER, 7H, 5K, 2BB).
LP: Jackson Campbell (22/3IP, 5R, 3ER, 3H, 1K, 2BB).
2B: S-Ryan Reed 2; SM-Brian Murphy.
Multiple hits: S-Nate Schon 2-for-4, R; Teague Hoover 2-for-4, RBI; Ryan Reed 2-for-2, BB, R, RBI. SM-Kevin Keown 2-for-4, R; Murphy 3-for-4, 2RBI.
