Nativity's Nick Wagner on the mound for the Hilltoppers during a PIAA Class A semifinal baseball game against Southern Fulton on Monday at Spring Grove Intermediate School. The Hilltoppers fell to the Indians 3-0 (Photo by Eli Doyle).

SPRING GROVE — For the second straight season, Nativity’s postseason journey ended on the PIAA stage.

This time, it came one game shy of a trip to the state championship.

Southern Fulton rode a pair of early scoring innings and a combined no-hitter from pitchers Paul Hendershot and Carter Mann to defeat the Hilltoppers 3-0 in the Class A semifinal round Monday afternoon at Spring Grove Intermediate School.

“Pitching-wise, hands down, (the Indians) have some of the best pitchers we’ve seen all year,” Nativity coach Ben Kreiger said. “I’m assuming that was their No. 2 and No. 3 pitchers. They threw hard and they threw strikes. They beat us fair and square. They put the ball in play.”

Nick Wagner took the loss on the mound, allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. Wagner and Stephen Karinch combined for three strikeouts, while the Nativity defense turned a double play in support.

Southern Fulton scored twice in the first on a two-run single by Mann, then tacked on an insurance run in the third. That proved enough, with Hendershot and Mann combining for seven hitless innings and 10 strikeouts.

The Hilltoppers were held to five baserunners — all via walks — and struck out 10 times. Barry Jenkins, Matt Lutzkanin, Wagner, Karinch and Andrew Verchick each drew a free pass.

“I wouldn’t trade this for the world,” Kreiger said. “I get to coach my son, who is a senior. I get to coach along with my oldest son. It’s a family thing for me. And now I have 20 more kids. We’re creating memories for life.”

Kreiger, now 2-2 in state playoff games over his first two seasons, guided the Hilltoppers to back-to-back District 11 Class A titles (their first-ever in 2024) and a milestone first-ever PIAA victory earlier this month.

Nativity’s senior class — Wagner, Zeno Rugh, Verchick, Mateo Ariaudo, Jack Gherghel, Nate Cooper, Jasir Jones and Jenkins — departs with 24 wins over the past two seasons and the program’s first two district titles.

The Hilltoppers, however, return a core group that includes top hitters Karinch, Ryan Examitas, Tommy Bartashus and Ryan Grabowski, along with sophomores Lutzkanin, Nick Clarke, Jorge Sullivan, Levi Frehafer and Eric Buchinski.

“This group of kids — they’re a handful,” Kreiger said with tears and a smile. “I’m going to miss these eight seniors, but we bring a good group back and we’ll be here again.”

PIAA Baseball
Class A
Semifinal Round
At Spring Grove Intermediate School

Southern Fulton 3, Nativity 0