Jun. 7—CLASS 2A FIRST ROUND
RIVERSIDE (21-0) vs. SAYRE (21-1)
Today, 4 p.m., at Bowman Field, Williamsport
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Riverside won the District 2 championship, beating Old Forge, 12-2; Sayre won the District 4 title, beating Southern Columbia, 7-3.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Riverside — C Jason Janesko .532, 33 R, 4 HR, 13 RBI; SS Michael Rickert .435, 28 R, 26 RBI; P-3B Zach Day .438, 30 RBI, 9-0, 1.71 ERA, 79 K; P-1B R.J. Santarsiero .302, 22 RBI, 9-0, 0.77 ERA, 74 K
Sayre — C Brayden Horton .456, 44 R, 8 HR, 46 RBI; P Luke Horton .391, 9 2B, 34 RBI, 9-1, 1.36 ERA, 64 K; Kannon Van Duzer .397, 4 HR, 41 RBI; Jake Burgess .417, 48 R, 14 RBI
THE BUZZ: Riverside is making its fifth PIAA tournament appearance and first since 2003. … The Vikings won their first District 2 title since they claimed back-to-back crowns in 2000-01. … Last time Riverside played at Bowman Field in Williamsport, it lost to Muncy, 7-4, in the first round of the 2003 PIAA Class 1A playoffs. … Janesko is an East Carolina University commit. … Sayre is making its sixth trip to the PIAA tournament. It lost in the Class 1A first round in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2017 and reached the Class 1A semifinals in 2018. … The Redskins have outscored their opponents this season, 280-63. Their lone loss came May 1 to Waverly, N.Y., 3-0. … Brayden Horton, a junior, and Luke Horton, a sophomore, are cousins.
UP NEXT: The winner advances to Thursday’s quarterfinals against either District 5 champion McConnellsburg or District 3 runnerup Newport.
CLASS 3A FIRST ROUND
SCRANTON PREP (6-12) vs. PALISADES (16-8)
Today, 3 p.m., at Saucon Valley HS
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Scranton Prep is the District 2 runnerup, losing to Lake-Lehman in the final, 5-0; Palisades won the District 11 championship, beating Notre Dame Green Pond, 3-2.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Scranton Prep — P-OF Brian Walsh .353, 15 R, 13 RBI, 1-3, 3.68 ERA, 39 K; 1B Ethan Muha .37, 16 RBI; SS Noah Sorensen .333, 14 RBI; P Luca Dennis 3-2, 5.56 ERA, 20 K
Palisades — C Jon Denato .446, 20 R, 20 RBI; P-OF Bela Pavlinski .420, 20 R, 29 RBI; P-IF Jaden Newton .411, 29 R, 30 RBI; P-IF Kyle McGrath .360, 34 R, 14 RBI
THE BUZZ: Scranton Prep is making its fourth PIAA tournament appearance and first since 2008. The Cavaliers have lost in the first round in each of their three previous trips. … After starting the season 0-7 and 1-10, Scranton Prep has won five of its last seven games. … Sorensen is a University of Connecticut commit. … Palisades is in the PIAA playoffs for the first time after winning its first district title in program history. It beat Notre Dame Green Pond in the district final after losing to the Crusaders three times during the Colonial League regular season and playoffs. … Pirates head coach Gary Koenig is 98-95 in his ninth season. He spent three years in the minor leagues with the Kansas City Royals organization. … Newton is 3-0 on the mound during the postseason. He allowed four hits and struck out six in the district title game. He also was the quarterback on the school’s District 11 Class 3A championship team in the fall.
UP NEXT: The winner advances to Thursday’s quarterfinals against either District 3 champion Oley Valley or District 12 runnerup String Theory.
CLASS 5A FIRST ROUND
ABINGTON HEIGHTS (13-6) vs. COCALICO (16-4-1)
Today, 4:30 p.m., Schautz Stadium, Dunmore
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Abington Heights won the District 2 championship, beating North Pocono, 9-1; Cocalico won the District 3 third-place game, beating Muhlenberg, 6-3.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Abington Heights — 2B Matt Show .426, 19 R, 10 RBI; OF Mike Show .341, 12 R, 13 RBI; P Scott Gilbert .245, 8 RBI, 6-0, 1.25 ERA, 89 K; P Cole Vida 4-1, 2.33 ERA, 38 K
Cocalico — P-1B Tristan Current .526, 14 RBI, 4-0, 0.80 ERA; 2B Joe Current .486, 14 RBI; SS Gerald DeBalko .439, 9 SB; CF Caleb Sturtevant .400, 9 SB; P-OF Alex Welker .366, 14 RBI.
THE BUZZ: Abington Heights is in the PIAA playoffs for the seventh time and has an all-time record of 10-5. The Comets won the PIAA Class 3A title in 2009 and finished state runnerup in Class 3A in 2015. … Since losing four straight May 7-12, Abington Heights has won six in a row. … Gilbert is headed to Bloomsburg, while Vida is a Fairleigh Dickinson University commit. … Cocalico is in the PIAA playoffs for the first time in program history. … The Eagles finished second in Section Three of the Lancaster-Lebanon League behind Manheim Central. … In the first round of the District 3 tournament, Cocalico overcame a 6-0 deficit to beat Greencastle-Antrim, 9-6. … The Eagles like to play “small ball,” bunting and stealing bases.
UP NEXT: The winner advances to Thursday’s quarterfinals against either District 1 champion Strath Haven or District 3 fifth-place team Manheim Central.
— SCOTT WALSH
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