Springfield, Marple Newtown are on collision course to district final

Springfield and Marple Newtown are on a collision course.

The Central League rivals are in the final four of the District 1 Class 5A baseball tournament. Barring inclement weather, they will play their respective semifinal games Friday afternoon.

No. 6 Marple Newtown (13-5) will host 10th-seeded Upper Moreland (11-5). In their quarterfinal round victory, a 14-1 rout of No. 14 Unionville, Scott Hahn went 4-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs. Alden Mathes picked up the win, registering six strikeouts over four innings.

Upper Moreland upset No. 2 Holy Ghost Prep, 1-0, behind a two-hit shutout by Tommy Jacobs.

Meanwhile, No. 5 Springfield (14-4) rallied to defeat conference foe and 13th-seeded Strath Haven, 3-2, in the district quarterfinals. Senior catcher Andrew Todaro delivered the big hit, a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the Cougars on top. Mike Smith was magnificent on the mound, hurling a complete game four-hitting with five strikeouts and no earned runs.

Springfield will host 16th-seeded Upper Merion, the Cinderella story of this year’s District 1 Class 5A tourney. The Vikings downed top-seeded Interboro, then earned a 6-3 victory over No. 8 W.C. Rustin in the quarters.

The top four teams in districts already qualified for next week’s PIAA tournament.