Marian headed to D-11 final
POTTSVILLE – Marian will finally get a taste of Coca-Cola Park.
And the Colts will have the opportunity to defend their district title.
Marian’s 6-0 triumph over Williams Valley in Wednesday’s District 11 Class 2A semifinal ensured the program of a spot in the championship game for the third straight year, one that this time will be played at the home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
“Since I started as an assistant, it’s always been a dream of ours as a program (to play at Coca-Cola Park). The two years we went to the title game, they didn’t have it there,” Marian head coach Tony Radocha said of the past two seasons. “So to bring it back, and the roller coaster of a season that we had - the highs, the lows - to be right back where we’ve been the last two years, it really shows that it’s all about being in the moment.
“Right now, we’re playing our best baseball, and it’s a great time to be doing that.”
A 12-run first inning sent the third-seeded Colts roaring past Shenandoah and into the semis on Monday.
Against the Vikings, Marian did its damage in the second inning.
The Colts scored five runs on five hits, with Quest Wilson picking up a two-run double and Matt Doherty a two-run single, while Aaron Mason also added an RBI single to set the tone early.
“It’s so important,” Radocha said of the quick start. “Too many times, we had some games where they were close, and we just couldn’t hold it; we lost seventh-inning leads.
“We always say to our kids, ‘Play with no fear, and don’t give the opposing team any hope.’ If you put five runs up in the second inning, you are pretty much taking away any hope that they possibly have. And they’re a small-ball team, so to take that away from them, that was a big part of our game plan. You can’t really bunt when you’re down five.”
No. 2 seed Williams Valley had its chances to cut into the deficit.
But Marian starter Hunter Fristick kept his nerve and worked out of several jams.
“I have a lot of confidence (in my defense),” said Fristick. “They’re a good group of kids, and they’re always good at making plays.”
The Vikings left runners at third base three times – in the first, second and sixth innings - and had runners at first and second with one out in the third, but were unable to cash in.
Fristick got strikeouts to end both the first and second innings. He finished with five punchouts.
“He battled,” Radocha said of Fristick. “He’s got ice water in his veins. Nothing bothers him. He has a stoic expression and he just goes out, and today he made his pitches.
“We talked yesterday, and we talked today before we left school about hitting the zone; pound the zone. Hit your spots. He’s not a strikeout pitcher; he’s a contact pitcher, and today, he did a great job.”
Seth Derr closed the door with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh for the Colts..
Doherty finished with three hits and a walk. He drove in Dante Agosti (2-for-3, two runs scored) in the top of the seventh inning to make it 6-0.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO … It hasn’t really seemed to matter where the championship game has been in recent years, with the Colts picking up a 1A title in 2016, before winning the 2A crown a year ago. “It’s very exciting, we’ve been looking forward to it, trying to get here the whole time, that was our goal. Now we got it, and we just have to keep going,” said Doherty.
“It’s a great feeling. It feels great to go there three years in a row. It shows how well we play together as a team,” added Wilson.
THE CHALLENGER … Marian will play top seed Schuylkill Haven Friday for the title. The Hurricanes defeated Panther Valley 13-4 in Wednesday’s other semifinal.
Marian 050 000 1 - 6 8 1
Williams Vy. 000 000 0 - 0 4 0
H. Fristick, Derr (7) and Nolter; Yuslum and Engle. W - Fristick. L - Yuslum.
