POTTSVILLE, PA – The Saints are still marching on.
On Thursday, Neumann-Goretti extra-inninged North Penn-Mansfield, 1-0, in the PIAA Class AA baseball quarterfinals at Pottsville. The victory propelled the Saints to the state semifinals Monday against District 11 champion North Schuylkill.
“A team win,” said senior pitcher Ethan Pritchett. “A lot of people contributed.”
NG will play in the PIAA semifinal vs North Schuylkill at 4PM at Parkland High School in Allentown, PA - PSD Photo
As for those responsible for N-G’s third straight PIAA win (the Saints had shut out MaST Charter, 6-0, in the district championship, then upended Lancaster Catholic, 5-1, in the first round of states), Pritchett was front and center. He fired seven shutout innings and struck out 10 batters.
Junior Jared Healey relieved Pritchett and tossed two more shutout innings. That enabled the Saints to eke out a walk-off victory in the home ninth.
Sophomore Joe LaFiora drew a lead-off walk and was replaced at first by junior Steve Pizza. A NPM error moved Pizza to second. Pritchett then advanced Pizza to third with a bunt single. Up stepped senior Brian Verratti, and his line drive to left field plated Pizza with the winning tally.
“A great win,” said Verratti. “That’s something I’ll never forget.”
Nor will sophomore RJ McGettigan.
“Good teams find a way to win no matter what,” said McGettigan. “We did the small things to get us the win instead of being selfish and swinging for the fences.”
*If Neumann-Goretti wins Monday, they will play for the state title on June 16 at Penn State University.
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)