Ephrata captures first District title in program history

READING >> All throughout the stands, you’d be hard pressed not to notice the purple and yellow shirts with Ephrata’s team phrase plastered on the back in big bold letters.

‘Work hard, play hard and dream big.’

On Thursday, June 2, those dreams became reality for the Mounts as they held up the trophy at the Reading Fightin Phils’ FirstEnergy Stadium.

Using a three-run second inning and adding some insurance in the sixth, Ephrata was able to secure its first District 3-AAAA title with a 7-4 win over Governor Mifflin on the afternoon of the team’s eight seniors’ high school graduation.

To view more photos from this game, click here.

“We never actually defined what exactly ‘dream big’ meant,” said Ephrata head coach Adrian Shelley, “but I knew what our guys thought. We were all on the same page. The closer we got to this, the more we realized the way to get here is by playing good baseball.

“The first two have to happen in order for you to fulfill that dream,” he added. “I’m so happy for these players and the way they came together this season.”

Right-hander Matt McGillan got the start on the mound, where he limited Gov. Mifflin to three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk. The senior gave way to his freshman brother, Zach McGillan, who came on and earned the save in the seventh after allowing a run to cross on two hits.

“I was pitching for contact,” said Matt, who struck out one batter for the win. “I was focused on getting the ball across the plate and letting the defense make some plays behind me. That’s the way I’ve been pitching all season — trying to get ahead in the count and let them put it in play.”

That approach worked wonders for his younger brother, Zach, in the top of the seventh.

With runners on first and second base and no outs, Mifflin’s Dylan Louviaux ripped one down the third base line.

Third baseman Chase Weik scooped it up, tug the bag and fired it over to first for the double play.

“Chase finally executed that footwork properly,” said Shelley with a laugh. “We’ve been working on that four years with him. That came up huge.”

First baseman Dillon Good (2-for-3) blasted a no-doubt solo shot into the boardwalk in left field in the third inning for the game’s lone extra-base hit. Designated hitter Evan Frees finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs out of the nine-hole.

The Mustangs’ runner-up finish proved a step further for the program, as they finished third after playbacks to close out their 2015 district run.

Lead-off man Chad Kleinsmith was 3-for-4 with two runs scored while second baseman Ajay Sczepkowski was 2-for-4 with a sac-fly to the warning track in the top of the fifth inning.

Gov. Mifflin head coach Chris Hole called it a ‘tough game,’ but says his team still has plenty to look forward to in the near future.

“Our group of seniors has carried us all season long,” he said. “So we’ll take some time, regroup and try and get refocused for the next tournament on Monday. I think our guys are disappointed about this loss, but they know there is still a lot more baseball to play.”

Noah Angstadt was most effective in relief for Mifflin. The right-hander held the Mounts to four hits across three innings and gave way to three unearned runs.

Corbin Dunnuck got the start and lasted only 1-1/3 innings where he yielded two runs on no hits and three walks. Nate Young let two runs cross in 1-2/3 innings in relief on two hits and a walk.

Even after Ephrata jumped out to a four-run lead by the bottom of the third, Mifflin never counted itself out.

“We haven’t given up all year,” added Hole. “We came back in the last inning against Red Land (in the quarterfinals). We responded well again today even when we got down.”

Making their first PIAA appearance in program history, Ephrata will take on Marple Newtown — the fifth-place seed from District 1 — in the state opener on Monday, June 6. Gov. Mifflin will take on the No. 1 seed from either District 2 or District 4.