After a day off to remember fallen heroes and celebrate Memorial Day, the District 11 tournament resumes Tuesday with lots of action, most notably three championship games — two in baseball at DeSales and one in softball at Parkland.
Here’s a look at those matchups:
District 11 3A championship
Who: No. 4 seed Notre Dame-Green Pond (14-9) vs. No. 2 Palmerton (16-7)
When/where: 4 p.m. Tuesday at DeSales University’s Butz Field at Weiland Park
At stake: A berth against the District 1 champ, either Dock Mennonite or Plumstead Christian, on Thursday in a PIAA 3A tournament play-in game. That winner will play District 12 No. 2 in the state tournament on Monday.
NOTRE DAME-GREEN POND
Coach: Mike Bedics (19th season 274-160)
How they got here: After losing to Southern Lehigh 5-0 in the Colonial League quarterfinals, the Crusaders bounced back with wins over Pine Grove Area (3-2) and Allentown Central Catholic (8-6). In both games, they rallied late. They scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat Pine Grove and scored eight runs in the sixth to erase a 6-0 deficit against ACCHS.
Key players (regular-season stats): Christian Rivituso (Sr. OF-P) .375 BA, 19 runs, 21 hits, 6 2Bs; Michael Martino (Sr. IF-P) 2-1, 3.96 ERA; Clemente Cintron (So. P-OF) .371, 23 hits, 16 runs, 2-2, 3.82 ERA, 29 Ks, 33 IP; Austin Casal (Jr. DH/UT).397, 25 hits, 7 XBH, 2-1, 3.13 ERA; Jason Frederick (So. 3B) .400, 17 RBIs, 5 XBH.
Of note: Notre Dame was 8-12 last season … Crusaders won 2019 3A District 11 title with 10-2 win over Palisades … Lost to North Schuylkill 3-2 in 2016 2A finals, beat Pen Argyl 2-1 for 2014 2A crown, lost to Salisbury 9-3 in 2013 finals and fell 6-3 to Saucon Valley in 1993 title game.
PALMERTON
Coach: Tyler Svetik (4th season, 50-38)
How they got here: After reaching the Colonial League semifinals before losing to Southern Lehigh 9-2, the Blue Bombers have bounced back with wins over Palisades (6-0) and Pen Argyl (3-2). Cam Pengelly tossed a three-hit shutout in the win over Palisades, and he worked six strong innings, scattering four hits, in the win over Pen Argyl. Jason Carelli led the offense with two hits and a run scored against Pen Argyl.
Key players: Pengelly (Jr. 3B-P) 10-2, 2.03 ERA, 78 Ks in 72.1 IP; AJ Borger (Sr. 2B-P) .296 15 RBIs; Carrelli (Jr. SS) .383, 31 hits, 25 runs, 11 XBH; Brady Reph (Jr. INF-P) .277, 18 RBIs, 5-4, 3.36 ERA; Luke Matsko (Jr. OF-P) .456, 36 hits, 18 runs, 15 RBIs.
Of note: The Blue Bombers began the season 2-4 and 5-6, but won nine in a row before losing to Southern Lehigh in the Colonial League semis. Overall, they have won 11 of their last 12 … In the finals for the first time since an 11-8 loss to Panther Valley in the 2022 2A championship game … Only D11 title came in 2016 with a 12-11 win over Lehighton for 3A gold … Palmerton beat Notre Dame-Green Pond 8-2 on April 10. Reph went 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs. Reph and Pengelly combined on a three-hitter.
Keith Groller’s pick: Palmerton 7-5 … Since Easter, the Blue Bombers have been as hot as any team in local baseball, but it won’t be easy against a resilient Notre Dame-Green Pond team that has had two amazing comebacks in this tournament.
District 11 5A championship
Who: No. 2 seed Whitehall (15-6) vs. No. 5 Bangor (12-11)
When/where: 7 p.m. Tuesday at DeSales University’s Butz Field at Weiland Park.
At stake: A berth in the PIAA 5A tournament against District 1’s No. 3 team (Chichester or Hatboro-Horsham) in the first round on Monday.
WHITEHALL
Coach: Eric Schmitt (fourth season, 48-38)
How they got here: After losing to Freedom 2-1 in the EPC quarterfinals, the Zephyrs go a quarterfinal-round bye and beat Pocono Mountain East 9-3 in the semifinals.
Key players: Tyler Reichenbach (Sr. OF-C-1B) .268, 16 RBIs; Konnor Moyer (Sr. C-1B-3B) .277, 10 RBIs; Zack Schaedel (Sr. 3B-P) .369, 17 RBIs; Jack Lloyd (Jr. P-OF-SS) 4-1, 2.02 ERA, 61 Ks, 52 IP; Seth Hoderewski (Jr. OF-P) .353, 23 RBIs; Tyler Sanders (Jr. IF) .292, 6 2Bs; Nik Christman (So. P-DH) 6-1, 2.12 ERA, 30 Ks, 29.2 IP.
Of note: Zephyrs have won eight D11 championships and are going for their third District 11 5A title since 2017. Beat Southern Lehigh 10-1 for the gold in 2017, beat Pocono Mountain East 6-2 last year. Lost to Blue Mountain 6-4 in the 2019 finals. In 4A when there were just four classes, Whitehall lost to Parkland 5-2 in the 2013 finals and beat Liberty 11-10 for gold in 2008. Also won D11 titles in 1966, 1974,1980, 2004 and ’05.
BANGOR
Coach: Anthony Martino (fifth season, 65-46)
How they got here: After a 5-4 loss to Northwestern Lehigh in the Colonial League quarterfinals, the Slaters have bounced back with two district wins. They have beaten Blue Mountain 5-3 and Southern Lehigh 5-2.
Key players: Dylan Keith (Sr. MIF/OF) .420, 28 runs, 25 RBIs 4 HR, 15 XBH; Jacob LaBar (Sr. P/OF) 1-1, 2 saves; Kurtis Snyder (Sr. IF/P) 5 2B, 19 RBIs, Alex Farensbach (Sr. OF), Jaxson Kreider (So. SS/P) .423; Tyler Balok (Sr. C/MIF) .324; Nolan Koza (Sr. OF/1B/P) 2-0, 4.57 ERA Gianni Goodrich (Sr. 1B) 15 RBIs; Gino Merlo (Jr. MIF/P) 4-3, 3.75 ERA; Owen Mera (Jr. P) 3-4, 34 Ks, 26 IP.
Of note: The Slaters have never won a district championship. They lost to Allen 3-1 in the 1983 district finals and to Shenandoah 2-1 in the 1947 title game. They started the season 1-6 and 3-7, but have won nine of their last 13. In games against EPC teams, they lost to East Stroudsburg South 14-4 on April 3 and fell to Nazareth 10-9 on April 19.
Keith Groller’s pick: Bangor 5-4 … There’s a first time for everything, and these Slaters feel as though it’s their time.
District 11 4A softball championship
Who: No. 1 Northwestern Lehigh (23-2) vs. No. 2 North Schuylkill (17-4)
When/where: 5 p.m. Tuesday at Parkland High School
At stake: The winner will host the District 4 champ (either Athens or Central Columbia) in the first round of the state tournament on Monday, while the loser will travel to the District 12 champ.
NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH
Coach: Kate Farber (second season at NWL, 45-7)
How they got here: Beat Bethlehem Catholic 11-1, beat Tamaqua 5-4 by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Key players: Rylee McGinley (Sr. CF); Shelby Mitman (Sr. 1B); Abby Dunstan (Jr. C); Emma Freeman (Jr. P); Lizzie Diehl (Jr. 2B), Lily Kinnon (Jr. LF), Ella Bressi (Jr. RF), Natalie Connor (Fr. SS); Samantha Boyer (Fr., 3B).
Of note: Playing in seventh consecutive 4A district final and is 0-6 over the last seven years with no championship being held in 2020 due to the pandemic. Lost to Bethlehem Catholic in 2018, Blue Mountain in 2019, Becahi in ’21 and ’22, and Blue Mountain each of the past two years. Has won two titles —1985 and 2007.
NORTH SCHUYLKILL
Coach: Jack Flynn
How they got here: Beat Saucon Valley 10-2 in the quarterfinals, beat Blue Mountain 14-4 in the semis.
Key players: Brigid Flynn (Jr. P) 10-2, 2.32 ERA, 68 Ks, .515, 26 RBIs, 13 XBH; Olivia Jones (Jr. 2B) 23 RBIs, 6 XBH, 6-1, 1.64 ERA, 65 Ks; Jordanna Frie (Jr. 1B) .477, 4 HRs, 6 2Bs, 28 RBIs; Lindsay Brouse (Sr. C) .478. 26 RBIs, 3 HRs.
Of note: The Spartans have never won a district title. They had 18 hits in the 5-inning win over Blue Mountain.
Keith Groller’s pick: The Tigers got a second life with their late comeback against Tamaqua and now intend to make the most of their second chance and snag the program’s first district title in 18 years. Northwestern Lehigh 6-3.
