Class AAA Quarterfinal
Jersey Shore (21-2) vs. Tamaqua (19-6)
When/Where: Today, 2 p.m., King's College, Wilkes-Barre
Tickets: $6 adults, $3 students
How they got here: District 11 champion Tamaqua defeated Franklin Towne Charter 12-2 in six innings. District 4 champion Jersey Shore edged Abington Heights 4-3.
Up Next: Winner advances to Monday's state semifinals and faces either District 1 champion Pope John Paul II or District 3 third-place finisher Northeastern at a site and time to be determined.
About the Bulldogs
Head coach: Matt O'Brien
PIAA playoff history: No stranger to the state playoffs, Jersey Shore is in the PIAA Class AAA postseason for the fourth straight year. The Bulldogs lost in the first round in 2011 (Tunkhannock 11-7) and 2013 (Abington Heights, 4-3 in 9 innings) and went 1-1 in 2012, beating North Pocono 2-0 before losing to Lampeter-Strasburg 9-4.
Players to watch: 2B Brody Smith (.400, 30 RS, 30 H, 15 RBIs, 5 2B), SS Colton Potter (.451, 26 R, 37 H, 20 RBIs, 11 2B), LF Christian Rishel (.425, 23 R, 34 H, 29 RBIs, 6 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR), 1B Zach Miller (.508, 24 R, 33 H, 35 RBI, 7 2B, 7 HR), 3B Zach Depasqua (.273, 18 H, 13 RBIs), RF Levi Lorson (.312, 15 H, 13 RBI), DH Cody Bradley (.309, 17 H, 11 RBIs), C Eric Huling (.328, 19 H, 13 RBIs), CF Boone Costa (.148), P Dylan Hamm (5-0, 2.25 ERA, 29 K, 37.1 IP), P Michael Schoonmaker (4-0, 0.62 ERA, 30 K, 34 IP)
Notes: Won fourth straight District 4 Class AAA title by beating Milton 3-1 and Midd-West 4-0. ... Only losses were 4-0 to Central Mountain on April 16 and 7-3 to Montoursville on April 30. ... Have won 10 straight games. ... Hitting .347 as a team with 11 homers. ... Rishel hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Lorson stroked a tie-breaking RBI single in the sixth in win over Abington Heights. Team finished with 12 hits. ... Bulldogs went with a pitcher-by-committee approach in state opener, as Schoonmaker (1.2), sophomore Travis Bradley (2.1), senior Travis Eiswerth (1) and Costa (2) all saw time on the hill.
About the Blue Raiders
Head coach: Jeff Reading (13th season), 170-115
PIAA playoff history: In the state quarterfinals for the second straight year, Blue Raiders have a 5-2 all-time record in the PIAA postseason.
Projected Lineup: SS Bo Rottet (.463, 44 H, 26 RS, 21 RBI, 12 2B), 2B Nate MacDonald (.262, 19 RS, 21 H, 18 RBIs), C Matt Roberts (.488, 40 H, 35 RBIs, 12 2B, 3 HR), P Brett Kosciolek (.313, 19 RS, 26 H, 14 RBIs, 4 2B, 4 HR; pitching - 1-0, 0.81 ERA, 18 K, 17.1 IP), CF Daylon Barron/DH Owen Bates (.367, 18 H, 15 RBIs), RF Adam Bates (.288, 21 H), 3B Connor Hartung (.217), LF Zach Coleman (.203, 13 RS, 12 H), 1B Matt Minchhoff (.274, 17 H).
Notes: Kosciolek was 3-for-3 with 3 RS, 3 RBIs and a homer in first-round win over Franklin Towne Charter, while Roberts was 3-for-4 and MacDonald scored three runs. ... Kosciolek gets the start today. He last pitched a week ago, going 3.1 innings, giving up 3 hits and one run, with five strikeouts and four walks, in District 11 Class AAA championship game against Blue Mountain. ... Strong pitching effort by Ian Nicholls in first round allowed Blue Raiders to rest other pitchers. ... Tamaqua played at King's College in 2003 run to state finals, beating Danville 3-2 in state semifinals. ... Roberts and Rottet have been red hot during postseason. Will need other bats to step up the rest of the way in key situations.
Directions: Take Interstate 81 north to Highland Park Exit, No. 168. Off ramp, make left at traffic light. Go two lights, field on left. Not much seating, so bring a lawn chair. Also, not much shade.
- Compiled by Leroy Boyer