District Playoffs: Greencastle baseball falls in title game
It was a busy day in Franklin County on Tuesday, as four area teams hit the diamond, with some hoping to keep their quests for district titles alive, including Greencastle-Antrim baseball, who took the field in the district title game.
However, all four teams were defeated, ending their district title runs and pushing the focus now onto consolations or the state championships.
Here's what went down on Tuesday.
Baseball
Mechanicsburg 6, Greencastle-Antrim 1: The Blue Devils entered Tuesday's District 3 5A Championship at Cumberland Valley as the higher seed, being the No. 4 seed against the No. 6 Wildcats. Greencastle also entered the game on a 12-game winning streak.
However, the elite pitching from Mechanicsburg was too much for Greencastle, dashing its title hopes.
Reese Young was sensational for the Wildcats, striking out 12 and only allowing two hits in the win over the Blue Devils.
Mechanicsburg got an early lead and never relinquished it. It got out to a 1-0 lead after the first inning, and before you knew it, it was 5-0 going into the fourth.
Greencastle had a chance in the fourth inning, loading the bases with nobody out. But three straight strikeouts from Young ended the threat with Greencastle unable to get on the scoreboard.
The Blue Devils were able to get a runner across in the seventh, but it was too little too late.
Greencastle now heads to the state tournament, where it will face the runner-up from District 12. That game is scheduled for Monday, June 5. Opponent, time and location it to be determined.
Muhlenberg 5, Shippensburg 2: The Greyhounds' quest for a state tournament berth ended on Tuesday with a consolation loss to Muhlenberg.
Shippensburg took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the lead was short lived, as Muhlenberg scored three in the bottom half of the opening frame.
Tucker Chamberlin gave up four runs and struck out 10 in six innings. The Greyhounds finish the season at 13-10.
Softball
Mechanicsburg 3, Greencastle-Antrim 1: In the other Wildcat-Blue Devil battle, the semifinals of the 5A bracket, it was again Mechanicsburg who came out on top.
The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, after a double by Meadow Gambacurta was followed up by an RBI hit from Annika Gaus.
They would hold that lead until the sixth, where Mechanicsburg rattled off three runs, with a 2-run single by Bella DeMaio giving the Wildcats the lead.
They would not relinquish that lead, shutting the door in the seventh.
Greencastle has already clinched a spot in states, and it will face Solanco in the third place game of districts at Solanco on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Cumberland Valley 2, Chambersburg 0: The Trojans' 10 game win streak ended on Tuesday, as the offense couldn't muster much against Cumberland Valley's Sydney May.
Chambersburg only recorded four hits in the District 3 semifinal loss, and couldn't cash in when it had activity on the base paths. The Eagles scored their two runs in the first inning, and held on for the rest of the way.
The Trojans will now face Governor Mifflin at home at 2 p.m. on Thursday in the third place game.