Blue Mountain's Riley Sebastian prepares to hit. Also pictured is Pottsville catcher Harrison Ciavarella and home plate umpire Jerry Misstishin (Photo by Eli Doyle).

Pottsville punches playoff ticket, Marian claims Division II crown; Shenandoah Valley, Tamaqua, Williams Valley roll behind big innings

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville saved its best swings for late and cashed in when it mattered most.

The Crimson Tide rallied for a quartet of runs in the sixth inning to edge Blue Mountain 5-4 in a Schuylkill League Division I baseball game Tuesday at Jim Steidle Field.

Pottsville struck first on an RBI single from Brody Eroh in the opening inning, but Blue Mountain answered and eventually grabbed a 3-1 lead in the third behind contributions from Sonny Amato, Evan Setlock and patient at-bats throughout the lineup. The Eagles added another run later to stretch the advantage before the Tide chipped away and set the stage for a decisive sixth.

In that frame, Pottsville loaded the bases and capitalized. Max Clews and Brody Hess each worked walks to force in runs, Harrison Ciavarella delivered a clutch RBI single, and Andrew Allen brought home the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice to flip a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 lead.

Ciavarella and Landon Trout each collected two hits to pace Pottsville, with Trout adding a triple. Eroh, Clews, Hess and Allen all drove in runs as the Tide made the most of limited hits. On the mound, Hess earned the win with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, while Trout and Danny Markus combined to keep the game within reach early.

Blue Mountain received hits from Aiden Finn, Cohen Kirby, Amato, Frankie Russo, Setlock and Josh Hoover, with Russo, Setlock, Amato and Finn each driving in runs. The Eagles showed patience with 10 walks and aggressive baserunning but couldn’t hold the late lead.

With the win, Pottsville secures its spot in the Schuylkill League playoffs and gains a crucial edge in the Division I race, holding the tiebreaker over fourth-place North Schuylkill. The Tide are scheduled to host Tri-Valley today at 4:30 p.m. (weather permitting).

The Dawgs, along with the Eagles, have also clinched league playoff berths from Division I, while seeding remains up for grabs. If Pottsville defeats Tri-Valley, District 11 power ratings will likely determine the Division I seeds. But if the Dawgs down the Tide, their tiebreaker over Blue Mountain would give them the outright Division I title.

Setlock and Sebastian; Trout, Markus (3), Hess (4) and Ciavarella. W — Hess (5-2). L — Setlock (5-2).

HITS: Blue Mountain — Finn, Kirby, Amato, Russo, Setlock, Hoover. Pottsville — Trout 2, Eroh, Ciavarella 2.

3B — Trout.

Marian 8, Minersville 7

C. Rogers, J. Plesnarski (4), N. Plesnarski (5) and B. Rogers; Defrancisco, Jordan (1), Lemus (5) and Labenburg. W — Jordan (1-1). L —N. Plesnarski (2-4).

HITS: Minersville — N. Plesnarski, C. Rogers, Rizzardi, J. Plesnarski, B. Rogers, Cutler. Marian — Quinn-Gutsie 3, Bednarek, Griguoli 2, Lemus, Cannon 2, Defrancisco.

2B — N. Plesnarski, Defrancisco, Lemus, Griguoli.

Shenandoah Valley 3, Schuylkill Haven 2

SHENANDOAH — Jostin Lajara delivered the go-ahead hit and Shenandoah Valley made it stand in a tight Division II matchup.

Locked in a pitcher’s duel, the Blue Devils broke through in the fifth inning as Haden Kechula and Lajara each drove in runs to erase a deficit and take control. Lajara’s double down the line proved to be the difference in a game where runs were at a premium.

Ethan Bench set the tone on the mound, working into the sixth while allowing just two runs and striking out seven. Kechula came on in relief to secure the save as Shenandoah Valley limited Schuylkill Haven to six hits despite some late pressure.

Lajara, Kechula, Gene Sinkus and Chase McCole each contributed hits for the Blue Devils, while the offense capitalized on key opportunities.

For Schuylkill Haven, Landon Houck led the way with two hits and an RBI, and Alan Evans struck out nine over six innings.

Evans and Diehl; Bench, Kechula (6) and Jt. Lajara. W — Bench (5-3). L — Evans (6-2).

HITS: Schuylkill Haven — Evans, Yoder, Hinnershitz, Maley, Houck 2. Shenandoah Valley — McCole, Kechula, Jt. Lajara, Sinkus.

2B — McCole, Jt. Lajara.

Williams Valley 11, Mahanoy Area 1, 5 inn.

TOWER CITY — Gavin Trawitz delivered the big swing with a three-run double during a six-run third inning as Williams Valley broke things open and pulled away from Mahanoy Area in a Division II matchup.

Mason Bowser set the tone on the mound for the Vikings, striking out seven over four innings while allowing just one hit and one run. He worked around a few baserunners and kept the Golden Bears from building any momentum before handing things off in relief.

At the plate for Williams Valley, Cayden Witmer led the way with two hits, while Cole Hubler, Fletcher Thompson and Trawitz each delivered key contributions. Hubler, Trawitz and Chevy Green added doubles as part of a balanced offensive effort that kept pressure on throughout.

Mahanoy Area managed just one hit from Ryan Zilker, though the Golden Bears showed some aggressiveness on the bases.

 Zilker, Alvarado (5) and Gambone; Bowser, Green (5) and Thompson. W — Bowser (2-0). L — Zilker (0-3).

HITS: Mahanoy Area — Zilker. Williams Valley — Hubler, Thompson, Witmer 2, Trawitz, Green.

2B — Hubler, Trawitz, Green.

Tamaqua 14, Panther Valley 1, 5 inn.

TAMAQUA — Jake Yenser set the tone at the top of the lineup, going 4-for-4 as Tamaqua broke things open early and never looked back, erupting for 14 runs behind a pair of big innings to pull away from Panther Valley in a Division I contest.

Gavan Hess delivered a pair of hits and drove in three runs, while Logan Morgans and Landon Kamant each added multiple hits as part of a 12-hit attack. The Blue Raiders put the game out of reach with a seven-run third inning, capitalizing on hits, walks and defensive miscues to create separation.

Yenser earned the win on the mound, striking out five over four innings while allowing just three hits and one run. Kamant closed things out with a scoreless frame in relief.

Panther Valley managed three hits from Brody Breiner, Kaden Koerbler and Derek Lazar.

 Breiner, Perilli (3) and Koerbler; Yenser, Kamant (5) and Witkowski. W — Yenser (3-4). L — Breiner (2-4).

HITS: Panther Valley — Breiner, Koerbler, Lazar. Tamaqua — Yenser 4, Kamant 2, Hess 2, Morgans 2, Witkowski, Holmberg.

2B — Hess, Yenser, Morgans.