The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media Area Spring 2023 state semifinal preview
It’s the final week of the spring sports season and The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media Area still has a handful of teams remaining in the PIAA state playoffs.
North Penn, Archbishop Wood and Dock Mennonite Academy are each two wins away from baseball state championships while North Penn softball looks to win its second state championship in three years. Mount Saint Joseph Academy and Archbishop Carroll girls lacrosse teams are still standing, as is La Salle boys lacrosse.
Before teams can worry about state championships this weekend, they’ve got semifinal matchups Tuesday. Below are game-by-game previews.
BASEBALL
CLASS-6A
North Penn vs. Father Judge >> District 1 third-place finisher North Penn faces District 12 champion Father Judge in the semifinals Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Neumann University.
The Knights (21-5) opened states with a 10-0 win over Hazleton in five innings before beating Liberty, 4-3, in the quarterfinals. The Crusaders (16-1) edged two District 1 teams from the Suburban One League – Plymouth Whitemarsh, 6-2, and Central Bucks West, 1-0 in nine innings.
Trevor Lugara is in line to get the ball for North Penn. The sophomore lefty struck out five batters to no walks and allowed four hits in five shutout innings against Hazleton. Judge’s Tim Gress allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings against Plymouth Whitemarsh.
The winner will face the winner of (3-1) Cedar Cliff and (7-1) Mount Lebanon in the championship Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Penn State University’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
For live updates, follow Ed Morlock on Twitter @emor09.
Class-4A
Archbishop Wood vs. Dallas >> District 12 champion Archbishop Wood faces District 2 champion Dallas in the semifinals Tuesday at 4 p.m. at DeSales University.
The Vikings (18-6) cruised through the first two rounds of states, beating Pope John Paul II, 15-5 in five innings, and Montoursville, 9-1. The Mountaineers (16-7) haven’t faced much resistance either, beating Esperanza, 12-1, and Hanover, 6-0.
Joey Gale, a first team All-Philadelphia Catholic League pitcher, threw 4 2/3 innings in relief against PJP last week and will be fully rested. He allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out three batters.
The winner will face the winner of (6-1) Bellefonte and (7-1) Hopewell in the championship Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Penn State University’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
For live updates, follow Andrew Robinson on Twitter @ADRobinson3.
Class-A
Dock Mennonite Academy vs. DuBois Central Catholic >> District 1 champion Dock Mennonite Academy faces District 9 runner-up DuBois Central Catholic in the semifinals Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Central Columbia High School.
The Pioneers (21-2) won their first two state playoff games 7-2 over Marian Catholic and 11-2 over Northeast Bradford. The Cardinals (19-5) beat Bishop Guilfoyle, 8-5, and Greenwood, 9-7.
Nathan Lapp will be fully rested for Dock after throwing a gem in the state opener. The right-hander struck out 11 batters in 5 2/3 innings against Marian Catholic.
The winner will face the winner of (9-1) Clarion and (5-1) Southern Fulton in the championship Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Penn State University’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
For live updates, follow Kev Hunter on Twitter @khunter10.
SOFTBALL
North Penn vs. Chambersburg >> District 1 champion North Penn faces District 3 third-place finisher Chambersburg in the PIAA-6A state semifinals Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Millersville University.
The Knights (26-0) stayed undefeated with a first-round win over Governor Mifflin, 3-1, and a five-inning semifinal drubbing of Hazleton, 18-0. The Trojans (22-3) also faced little resistance, beating Central, 16-0 in three innings, and Nazareth, 9-1.
North Penn is looking for its second state championship in three years. The Knights won the title in 2021 before falling in the semifinals last season.
The winner will face the winner of (3-1) Cumberland Valley and (7-1) Hempfield in the final Thursday at 4 p.m. at Penn State University’s Nittany Lion Softball Park.
For live updates, follow Mike Cabrey on Twitter @mpcabrey.
BOYS LACROSSE
La Salle vs. Radnor >> District 12 champion La Salle faces District 1 runner-up Radnor in the PIAA-3A state semifinals Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Garnet Valley High School.
The Explorers (17-5) beat Garnet Valley, 9-8, in the first round before dismissing Parkland, 10-1, in the quarterfinals. The Raptors (21-3) had no trouble with Dallastown, 16-3, and Wissahickon, 16-1, in the first two rounds.
The winner will face the winner of (3-1) Manheim Township and (1-1) Springfield Delco in the championship Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Penn State University’s Panzer Stadium.
For live updates, follow Matthew De George on Twitter @sportsdoctormd.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Mount Saint Joseph Academy vs. Archbishop Carroll >> District 1 champion Mount Saint Joseph Academy faces District 12 champion Archbishop Carroll in the PIAA-2A state semifinals Tuesday at 3 p.m. at West Chester Henderson High School.
The Mount (18-6) defeated York Catholic, 15-11, in the first round and Hershey, 11-6, in the quarterfinals. The Patriots (21-1) handled two District 1 teams in Upper Moreland, 17-2, and Gwynedd Mercy Academy, 20-5.
The teams met in the state quarterfinals last season. Carroll won 19-8 on its way to a second straight state championship.
The winner will face the winner of (3-1) Twin Valley and (1-2) Bishop Shanahan in the state final Saturday at 10 a.m. at Penn State University’s Panzer Stadium.
