MacCain masterful as Archbishop Wood shuts out Manheim Central in PIAA-5A quarterfinals
MUHLENBERG >> His teammates kidded him that it must have been his new buzz cut.
Justin MacCain was unhittable on Thursday, delivering six shutout innings to key Archbishop Wood’s 7-0 victory over Manheim Central in the PIAA-5A Quarterfinals out at Muhlenberg High School.
The victory propelled the Vikings to the state semis for the first time, where they’ll face either Upper Dublin or Selinsgrove on Monday.
“We’re excited,” said MacCain. “Hopefully all of the guys come out and we play our best game. That’s all you can ask for.”
The lefty didn’t allow a hit in his six innings of work. He walked four and hit three batters, but he racked up 10 strikeouts.
“Every time I throw a ball, I’m gonna come back and throw a strike,” said MacCain, who pitched a no-hitter earlier this year against Cardinal O’Hara. “Coming in with the fastball, my arm was feeling really good. My mechanics felt a lot smoother than usual.”
While MacCain was in command, the Vikings pounced on their first opportunity at the plate.
Against Baron right hander Connor Rohrer, Wood took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Joey Gale drew a walk and Patrick McKinney doubled him over to third. Gale scored on a wild pitch and a ground ball by Aidan Myers allowed pinch runner Tyler Kilmer to race home and make it 2-0.
Dariel Tiburcio (3-for-3, 3 RBI, R) got his stellar afternoon rolling, lifting a double to the gap in right center to score another and widen the gap to 3-0.
Wood increased its lead in the third.
Tiburcio struck again, this time plating two runs with a timely single to stretch the margin to 5-0.
A pair of sacrifice flies – one by Aiden Myers in the fifth and the other by Brian Klumpp in the sixth – enhanced the Wood advantage to 7-0.
Connor Woodson came on in relief for the Vikings, and he slammed the door shut, striking out the side to end it as the Vikes put together a combined no-hitter.
Of his start, MacCain said he felt stronger and looser as the game went on.
“What an exciting game,” said Vikings coach Jim DiGuiseppe Jr. “Justin pitched his tail off. Man, talk about a dude picking us up at the right time. I just can’t say enough about his focus and the composure he had out there.”
PIAA-5A Quarterfinals
Archbishop Wood 7, Manheim Central 0
Manheim 000 000 0 – 0 0 0
Wood 302 011 x – 7 7 0
WP: Justin MacCain (6IP, 0R, 0H, 10K, 4BB, 3HBP).
LP: Connor Rohrer (3IP, 5R, 5ER, 5H, 2K, 3BB).
2B: AW-Patrick McKinney, Dariel Tiburcio.
Multiple hits: AW-McKinney 2-for-3, 2R; Tiburcio 3-for-3, R, 3RBI.
