After his game-winning single provided a 3-2 win over Nazareth in Sunday’s District 11 6A semifinals, Parkland’s Brody Morabito looked ahead to the championship game against Liberty.
“I expect Liberty to come in and want to kick our butt,” Morabito said. “They always want to, and now they have more reason to. We have to be ready.”
On May 17, Parkland beat Liberty 7-5 for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference championship.
But when it comes to the District 11 tournament, it’s the Trojans who owe the Hurricanes a lot of payback.
Liberty defeated Parkland in each of the last two 6A championship games — 7-4 last year and 13-3 in 2023. The Hurricanes also prevailed over the Trojans 2-1 in nine innings in the 2017 final.
Since the PIAA and District 11 went to six classes in 2017, Liberty has won five 6A titles. In the same time frame, Parkland is 0-5 in 6A finals, and its last district gold came in 4A in 2015 with a 4-3 win over Easton. It capped a three-year run of district championships for the Trojans.
Going back 18 years to the 2007 tournament, Liberty and Parkland have clearly been the gold standard in the sport locally, with the Hurricanes and Trojans combining for 10 District 11 championships.
It’s not surprising they’re back at DeSales again at 6 p.m. Wednesday, going for more gold.
Both teams have worked hard to get there, with Parkland following up its EPC championship with a pair of walk-off wins in the bottom of the seventh, beating Easton and Nazareth by the same 3-2 scores.
Liberty handled East Stroudsburg South 10-5, but had to dig deep to pull out a 1-0 win over rival Freedom despite being outhit 9-2.
Both teams are guaranteed state tournament berths, but that shouldn’t lessen the intensity of the championship game. Expect another close one.
“This is a great league, very competitive, and every single game in these playoffs has been close,” said Parkland’s all-conference shortstop Will Dobil. “You can never take your foot off the pedal.”
A look at the 6A and 4A baseball title games and the 3A softball final at Patriots Park:
Class 6A baseball championship
Who: No. 1 Parkland (19-5) vs. No. 2 Liberty (20-5)
When/where: 6:05 p.m. Wednesday at DeSales University’s Butz Field at Weiland Park.
At stake: The winner will get to host District 1’s No. 4 team (either North Penn, Coatesville, West Chester Henderson, or Neshaminy) in Monday’s PIAA first round. The loser will play at District 1 No. 2 team (same possible opponents as above).
PARKLAND
Coach: Kurt Weber (10th season, 164-59).
How they got here: Beat No. 8 seed Easton 3-2, beat No. 4 Nazareth 3-2.
Key players: Will Dobil (Sr. SS) .492, 11 XBH, 23 runs; Steve Sepko (Sr. P) 3-0, 1.64 ER; Brody Morabito (Sr. C) .292; Nathan Unger (Sr. 3B/P) 5-2, 1.44 ERA, Mack Parsell (Sr. P/1B) .308, 12 runs, 12 RBIS; Ben Weninger (Soph. P/1B) .310, 12 XBH, 23 RBIs, Chase Brunner (Jr. OF/P) 3-0, 1.46 ERA; Sawyer Marsteller (Jr. P) 6-0, 1.49 ERA.
Of note: Trojans have a 1.69 team ERA and have walked just 66 in 162 innings while striking out 135. Have allowed just one home run and allowed just 11 runs in five postseason — five by Liberty.
LIBERTY
Coach: Andy Pitsilos (22nd season, 384-145).
How they got here: Beat No. 7 seed East Stroudsburg South 10-5, beat No. 3 Freedom 1-0.
Key players: Franklin Pichardo (Sr. C) .333, 6 2Bs, 19 RBIs; Mikey Mariano (Sr. (P/1B) 10-0, 2.12 ERA, 52 Ks, 72.2 IP; Kam Kensicki (Sr. (UT) .403, 5 XBH, 18 RBIs; Jaxon Horvath (Sr. 3B/SS) .333, 7 2Bs, 20 RBIs; Dylan Metzger (Sr. 2B) .338, 20 runs, 19 RBIs; Jacob Matthews (Sr. 1B) .371, 14 runs, 18 RBIs; Justin Frey (Sr. OF) .269, 16 RBIs; Max Landis (Sr. OF) .369, 22 runs, 17 RBIs, 8 XBH; Adam Unangst (Sr. OF) .329, 17 runs, 14 RBIs; Liam Fitzpatrick (Jr. P) 4-3, 4.89 ERA, 22 Ks, 34.1 IP; Willie Cruz (So. 2B-SS) .319, 15 runs, 14 RBIs.
Of note: The Hurricanes have a .335 team batting average with 47 extra-base hits. They have stolen 50 bases on 60 attempts with Frey going 10-for-10. Since a 3-2 loss to Parkland in the 2021 semifinals at Liberty, the Hurricanes have nine consecutive district tournament appearances, including a 7-0 mark at DeSales.
Keith Groller’s pick: Liberty has the edge in hitting, Parkland has an advantage in the pitching department. The Hurricanes don’t lose in districts at DeSales, but after back-to-back walk-off wins, this seems to be the Trojans’ time. Parkland 4-3.
Class 4A baseball championship
Who: No. 1 Tamaqua (21-1) vs. No. 2 Northwestern Lehigh (19-5).
When/where: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at North Schuylkill.
At stake: A berth in the PIAA tournament on Monday against the District 1 champion Pope John Paul II.
TAMAQUA
Coach: Jeffrey Reading (23rd season, 292-210).
How they got here: Beat No. 4 Bethlehem Catholic 4-1 in the semifinals.
Key players: Mason Ligenza (Sr. P-CF) .436, 42 runs, 28 walks, 11 HRs, 7-1, 0.25 ERA, 100 Ks, 55.1 IP; Cooper Ansbach (Sr. P-SS) .409, 21 RBIs, 6 XBH, 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 35 Ks, 20 IP; Luke Kane (Sr. C-OF-P) .375, 7 2Bs; Logan Morgans (Jr. P-OF) .317; Jake Yenser (So. P-UT) .5-0, 1.27 ERA, 35 Ks, 27.2 IP.
Of note: The Blue Raiders have a team ERA of 0.94, and the pitchers have struck out 229 hitters while walking 69. Ligenza, a Pitt commit, had a perfect game against Panther Valley on May 7. Tamaqua has won four district championships (2003, 2013, 2014 and 2017). The 2003 team reached the state 2A finals before losing to Ellwood City 3-1.
NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH
Coach: Brian Polaha (second season, 36-11).
How they got here: Beat No. 3 Saucon Valley 2-0 in the semifinals.
Key players: Eli Zimmerman (Sr. OF) .339, 36 runs; Josh Farber (Sr. INF-P) 3-1, 4.20 ERA; Watson Church (Sr. 1B-OF) .417, 20 runs, 23 RBIs, 5 XBH, 4-1 1.24 ERA; Aidan Freeman (Sr. OF-P) 5-2, 1.79 ERA, 53 KS, 47 IP; Cole Dynda (Soph. SS-P) .355, 9 XBH, 30 RBIs, 3-1, 3.00 ERA, 38 Ks, 32.2 IP; Cannon Fitch (Jr. C-IF) .400. 29 runs, 28 RBIs; Brady Zimmerman (So. OF) .289, 20 runs.
Of note: The Tigers have a .314 team batting average and have stolen 67 bases on 70 attempts. Northwestern is in the finals for the first time since losing to Bethlehem Catholic, 5-3, in the 2021 district championship game. Beat Allentown Central Catholic 5-4 for the 2018 4A gold. Also beat Shenandoah Valley 8-1 for the 1989 2A title.
Keith Groller’s pick: Northwestern Lehigh has scuffled down the stretch, but found a way to beat Cole Hubert in the semifinals and now will try to take another Division I talent in Ligenza. Tigers 3-2.
Class 3A softball championship
Who: No. 1 Pine Grove Area (22-2) vs. No. 2 Palisades (21-3)
When/where: 6 p.m. Wednesday at Blue Mountain’s Patton Field
At stake: A berth in the state tournament against District 3’s No. 3 team (Littlestown or Trinity).
PINE GROVE AREA
Coach: Ryan Leffler (11th season, 204-62)
How they got here: Beat No. 4 Northern Lehigh 10-0 in the semifinals.
Key players: Callee Leffler (Jr. OF) .552, 53 runs, 26 RBIs, 23 XBH, 31 SB; Madison Shiffer (Sr. IF) .494, 16 XBH, 27 runs, 45 RBIs; Addison Zimmerman (Sr. OF) .403, 9 2Bs, 20 RBIs; Hannah Aungst (Jr. P-IF) .388, 39 runs, 15 XBH; Chelcy Clark (So. P) 12-1, 1.85 ERA, 99 Ks, 83.1 IP and bats .378; Jamie Dinger (So. P) 10-1, 0.55 ERA, 120 Ks, 9 BB, 63.2 IP, 3 no-hitters, and bats .342; Tailyn Bohr (Jr. C) .333.
Of note: Leffler has committed to Florida State. She has 118 career hits with a full season left. PGA has only lost to North Schuylkill— 6-5 on April 3 and 2-0 on April 29. Leffler has led the Cardinals to three district titles (2016, 2017, and 2019). The 2019 team won the state title. Have lost the last two district title games to Palisades, 10-4 in 2023 and 3-2 last year when the Pirates scored three runs in the top of the seventh.
PALISADES
Coach: Rick Wilmott (second season, 40-9).
How they got here: Beat No. 3 Pen Argyl 7-3
Key players: Karlye Teman (Sr. P) .427, 23 runs, 21 RBIs, 15 XBH; 21-2, 2.00 ERA, 292 Ks, 72 BB, 150.2 IP; Rhiley Poniktera (Sr. LF) .385, 26 runs, 26 RBIs, 9 XBH; Aubrey Boushell (Sr. 2B) .427, 22 runs, 10 RBIs; Brooklynn Lucas (Sr. 1B) .457, 19 runs, 26 RBIs, 13 XBH; Catie Russo (Jr. SS) .562, 39 runs, 30 RBIs, 24 XBH, 7 HRs; Fiona Keller (Jr. C) .308; Madisyn Deem (Jr. 3B) .288.
Of note: The Pirates are going for their fourth straight district title and seventh overall. Also won titles in 2008, 2010, and 2018 before the current three-year run. Teman, an East Stroudsburg University commit, has won 79 games in her career and has 1,096 career strikeouts. Her 292 Ks this season are a career-best.
Keith Groller’s pick: Teman has a chance to go down as one of District 11’s all-time best pitchers. Pine Grove Area is exceptionally strong, but it’s foolish to pick against Teman and a resilient Pirates team. Palisades 5-3.
