ROYERSFORD — When a game begins as a pitchers’ duel, the team that blinks first usually loses.
Tri-Valley did not blink first.
The Bulldogs defeated Christopher Dock 5-1 on Wednesday in a PIAA Class A first-round game behind Hunter Bordner’s complete game and a five-run sixth inning.
The senior righty allowed one run on eight hits, striking out six and walking one at Spring-Ford High School.
Logan Yoder’s two-run single in the sixth broke a scoreless tie for Tri-Valley, which advances to today’s quarterfinals. The Dawgs will take on District 5 champion Southern Fulton at 4 p.m. at Hershey High School.
“Hunter’s started for me for four years, and I can honestly say he never disappoints me,” Tri-Valley coach Bob Felty Sr. said. “He goes out there and battles and gives us
his best. He hung in there, threw a great game and got out of jams when he needed to.”
The Pioneers’ starter, Daniel Sabath, gave up just one hit, struck out seven and allowed three walks over five solid innings.
Sabath’s relievers were not as disciplined.
After Yoder’s single put his team on the board, Tri-Valley (16-8) got its remaining three runs from drawing bases-loaded walks.
Yoder, who also finished with a run scored, came up with one of the Dawgs’ two total hits; the other came from designated hitter Mark Klinger.
“Yoder keeps stepping up for us at key times,” Felty said. “He’s been in pressure situations before, and he hits the ball solid.”
The pitchers’ duel began when Sabath struck out the side in the top of the first.
Bordner struggled in the bottom of the inning, allowing the first two batters to walk and single, respectively.
He got the first out on a ground ball to third, but then hit the next batter to load the bases.
After Felty visited the mound, Bordner recorded a strikeout and a forceout to end the inning.
“I couldn’t find my groove on the mound, and I told them it would take a little bit,” Bordner said. “Coach told me I’d find my groove after this visit, and I stayed on track to get through it.”
Both starters cruised through the next four innings before Sabath was relieved at the start of the sixth by Andrew Walters.
Tyler Lucas led off the inning with a walk, and Bordner reached first on an error by the third baseman.
Hunter Herb then drew a no-out walk to load the bases.
Yoder came through with a single to left field that put Tri-Valley up 2-0.
“That was huge,” Felty said of Yoder’s hit. “Logan stepped up and broke the ice with that one.”
Walters gave way to Evan Trougar, who allowed three runs on four bases-loaded walks.
Tim DeLoreto, Christopher Dock’s fourth pitcher, came in and stopped the bleeding.
The Pioneers (16-5) got a run back on Rasheed Saint Lafleur’s RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to make it 5-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, Bordner was struck in the back by a line drive, but he refused to leave the game.
He then proceeded to strike out the next two batters and caught the final out on a popup.
“I told my coach to just give me the ball back,” Bordner said after getting hit. “Something like that was not going to take me out of a game that I wanted to win, so I kept rolling.”
After the game, Felty reflected on what the win means for his team and his school.
“We had a couple years where we didn’t win the first-round game,” Felty said. “It’s a team effort from Day 1 and I’m very happy we get to play again. These guys love to play baseball, and they give it their all.”
Game Summary
PIAA Class A First Round
At Spring-Ford HS, Royersford
TRI-VALLEY (5) — Schwalm ss 3 0 0 0, Lucas cf 1 1 0 0, Bordner p 4 1 0 0, Herb 1b 1 1 0 0, Yoder c 4 1 1 2, Poletti cr 0 0 0 0, Carado 2b 2 1 0 0, Harner ph 1 0 0 0, Buchanan rf-pr 0 0 0 0, Klinger dh 3 0 1 0, Masser 3b 2 0 0 0, Kimmel lf 2 0 0 0, Boltz ph 1 0 0 0. Totals 24 5 2 2.
CHRISTOPHER DOCK (1) — Kustra ss 3 0 1 0, Alderfer dh-rf-lf-cf 4 0 1 0, DiLoreto c-p 4 0 1 0, Walters 1b-p-1b 3 1 2 0, Frankenfield 3b-rf-3b 3 0 0 0, Saint Lafleur cf-c 3 0 1 1, Brunk 2b 3 0 0 0, Glancey rf-1b 3 0 1 0, Trauger 1f-p-1f 3 0 1 0, Keller pr 0 0 0 0. Totals 29 1 8 1.
Tri-Valley (16-8) 000 005 0 — 5
C. Dock (16-5) 000 001 0 — 1
E — Tri-Valley 1, Christopher Dock 1. DP — None. LOB — Tri-Valley 8, Christopher Dock 9. 2B — Saint Lafleur. SB — Poletti, Kustra 2, Alderfer, Saint Lafleur, Keller. S — Trauger.
Tri-Valley IP H R ER BB K
Bordnr W,11-2 7 8 1 1 1 6
C. Dock IP H R ER BB K
Sabath 5 1 0 0 3 7
Walters L 0 1 4 3 2 0
Trauger .2 0 1 1 4 2
DiLoreto 1.1 0 0 0 1 1
HBP — by Bordner (Walters). PB — DiLoreto. T — 2:04.