The Blue Mountain baseball team and coaches pose for a picture after defeating Pocono Mountain East 2-0 in a District 11 Class 5A semifinal baseball game Sunday, May 24, 2026, at North Schuylkill's Robert Wetzel Field. The win marked the 1,000th career victory in program history (SUBMITTED PHOTO).

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Evan Setlock owned the moment, and Blue Mountain made history because of it.

Setlock tossed a complete-game shutout as the Eagles defeated Pocono Mountain East 2-0 in the second game of a District 11 Class 5A semifinal twinbill Sunday at North Schuylkill’s Robert Wetzel Field, marking the 1,000th win in program history dating back to 1957.

“(Setlock) said to me in class the other day that he wanted the ball, he wanted to pitch,” Blue Mountain coach Jarrod Kramer said. “He wanted to win the 1,000th game in program history.

“He turned in another great performance, he kept (the Cardinals) off-balanced, he competed. It was vintage Setty tonight like it was against Tri-Valley. (Pocono Mountain East) has some athletes and some really nice players. It was a good win. We got bounced in the first round the last couple year so it was nice to come up here and win.”

Southern Lehigh defeated Whitehall 7-6 in the first game of the semifinal doubleheader, setting up a championship showdown between the Eagles (20-4) and Spartans (19-5) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Robert Wetzel Field.

Setlock was in command from the first pitch, scattering six hits over seven innings while striking out six and walking none. The senior right-hander also reached a milestone along the way, recording his 100th strikeout of the season as he kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard. His only blemish was a hit batsman in the top of the seventh inning.

Blue Mountain gave him all the support he needed right out of the gates.

Freshman Sonny Amato ripped an RBI double in the first inning to open the scoring, and senior Aiden Finn added to the lead in the second with an RBI fielder’s choice to make it 2-0.

Finn and junior Ryan Clemas led the way offensively with two hits apiece. Amato, Frankie Russo and Riley Sebastian each added base knocks as the Eagles finished with seven hits. Blue Mountain also created pressure on the bases, with Finn, Amato and Brady Strause each swiping bags.

Pocono Mountain East threatened at times, getting a multi-hit effort from Connor Triano and key contributions from Alexander Stirr and Devon Jackson, but could never string together the big hit against Setlock.

The Eagles were without infielder and big bat Cohen Kirby due to injury, but didn’t miss a beat defensively. Third baseman Russo and second baseman Strause both made key plays in the infield, ranging deep to their right and firing across the diamond in time to record outs.

Sebastian tracked down a ball deep in the right-center alley and later threw out a runner at first base from right field after charging a blooper and firing a strike that was corralled by Clemas.

Blue Mountain flashed the leather all over the field.

“Again, facing a lot of adversity without Kirby in the lineup,” Kramer said. “Our guys delivered again tonight. Now we have to do it again on Tuesday.

“With Cohen down, we weren’t sure if we should catch Sebastian or throw him out in right field. We put him out there, and he’s just so athletic, and then to throw that kid out at first base. I’m not sure anyone else makes that play. Sebastian’s an athlete and he just wants to do anything he can to help us win. He’s a competitor.”

After an early two-run burst, Blue Mountain leaned on its ace and defense the rest of the way, turning a tightly played semifinal into a milestone victory — and a trip to the District 11 Class 5A championship.

“We have to throw strikes, keep playing good defense, and finding the timely hitting like we did today,” Kramer said on the key to keeping the success rolling. “If we do that, we’ll be right there.”

Game Summary

District 11 Class 5A Semifinal

At Robert Wetzel Field

POCONO MOUNTAIN EAST (0) — Erhmann ss 4 0 0 0, Angst c 3 0 0 0, Stirr 1b 3 0 1 0, Jackson 3b 3 0 1 0, Williams cf 3 0 0 0, Triano rf 2 0 2 0, Martinez lf 3 0 0 0, B. Smith 2b 1 0 0 0, Kolinsky ph 1 0 1 0, L. Smith ph 1 0 1 0, Sequera pr 0 0 0 0, Marabell p 0 0 0 0, Markovsky p 0 0 0 0, Rarick dh 2 0 0 0, Puzzati ph 1 0 0 0. Totals 27 0 6 0.

BLUE MOUNTAIN (2) — Sebastian rf 3 0 1 0, Finn lf 4 1 2 1, Amato c 3 0 1 1, Strause 2b 2 0 0 0, Setlock p 3 0 0 0, Russo 3b 3 0 1 0, Hoover cf 2 0 0 0, Pritiskutch ss 0 0 0 0, Blehm dh 2 1 0 0, Clemas 1b 3 0 2 0, Hartman pr 0 0 0 0. Totals 25 2 7 2.

E — Pocono Mountain East 0, Blue Mountain 2

LOB — Pocono Mountain East 5, Blue Mountain 9

2B — Amato, Russo

SB — Kolinsky, Finn, Amato, Strause

Pocono Mountain East

Blue Mountain

HBP — by Marabell (Strause), by Setlock (Triano). T — 2:05.

Umpires: HP — Mark Brown. 1B — Joe Gerchak. 2B — Jeff Erie. 3B — Josh Grimm. PC — Gerald Misstishin.