Klein, O’Hara lose slugfest to Prep

Cardinal O’Hara made things interesting against St. Joseph’s Prep Wednesday, but the Lions couldn’t quite overcome the Hawks.

The sixth-seeded Lions bowed out of the Catholic League semis, dropping a 14-9 decision to No. 7 Prep at La Salle High School.

Peter Klein drove in three runs with two hits, and Kevin McKeon plated a pair of runners and Luke Zimmerman added two hits for the Lions (11-10). Five pitchers were needed after starter Zimmerman lasted just 2⅓ innings, walking five and allowing three runs (one earned).

That allowed Prep to open up a 9-3 lead after 4½ innings. But O’Hara hit back, answering with four runs in the fifth to make things interesting, getting the tying run to the plate and winnowing the gap to 9-7.

Prep, though, touched up Brian Bromley for a five spot in the top of the sixth, and even two runs pushed across in the bottom of the seventh by O’Hara couldn’t help it survive to Saturday’s title game.

John Coppola went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs, while Luke Donaphon drove in two and scored three times. Jeff Manto also drove in three runs. George Stewart, Aaron Shafer and John Dennis worked 2⅓ innings each in helping the Prep staff survive.