'I just didn't give up' | Greencastle escapes with a 1-0 win in the PIAA quarterfinals

Two Franklin County teams were left standing entering Thursday, with both looking to earn their spots in the state final four.

At the end of Thursday, both teams accomplished that, with Greencastle-Antrim baseball and Chambersburg softball each winning their respective quarterfinal contests and advancing to the PIAA semifinals.

Both will now face teams from Philadelphia suburbs on Monday to earn a trip to Penn State for the state title game.

Here's how it happened:

Greencastle-Antrim 1, Pocono Mountain East 0

It was a good start for the Blue Devils. In the top of the first, Ryan Farrow recorded an RBI single to open the scoring. Little did they know that would be their only run of the game.

But it was the only run they needed.

Greencastle got six shutout innings from Jace Szaflarski en route to nail-biting one-run win to advance to the semifinals.

The tension built throughout the game, so it was no surprise that it was a special moment following the final out.

"As long as they live they'll remember tonight," head coach Eric Shaner said.

Gavin Sopko was dominant for the Cardinals, but Shaner saw an opportunity in the first to get on him. A single by Carter Reid led to Shaner's decision to send him for a stolen base. He made it, which allowed him to come around and score on the Farrow hit.

"We knew their kid was really good," Shaner said. "I watched a ton a video on him and I knew what he had and knew he was a competitor. That's why we took the shot in the first inning to send [Reid]. Sometimes it may not be the right call but it's the best call for the moment."

It worked, and with Greencastle only recording four hits in the game, it was an important decision.

But the story is Szaflarski, who shut the door every inning. Even though after the first inning it looked like the game was heading in a high scoring direction.

"Struggled early on, walked the bases loaded in the first inning," Szaflarski said. "But finally settled in, let my defense do the work."

He got out of that one, and had to work out of a handful of other jams to preserve the lead. Numerous times he let guys get on base, but found ways to keep them there.

"I just didn't give up," Szaflarski said. "I knew that if I threw it there I could get them out."

He only had two strikeouts, but there were many times he got Cardinals to fly out, with his outfielders playing a clean game to help their pitcher.

Each passing inning and each escape, it felt like the Blue Devils just had to run out the proverbial clock. But Shaner knew that with Szaflarski, they were in good hands.

"He's just so mentally tough..." Shaner said. "He's just such a tremendous leader and competitor and the guys play so hard for him. There's nobody else I want to have the ball in this situation."

With his pitch count high, Shaner turned to Adam Horst to get the save in the seventh. The tying run eventually found his way to third, but Horst followed in his predecessor's footsteps, and got out of it.

"You can't say enough about Adam Horst to not even flinch at the end," Shaner said.

Horst got the last batter to swing and miss, commencing the celebration, and earning a Greencastle a spot in the final four for the first time since 2000.

"I said when we left practice the other day," Shaner said. "'As a coach, I can't ask for anymore from you. You guys are together, you're playing for each other and that's all we can ask for. If we're not good enough at that point we're not good enough. But as long as we're playing together and playing for each other, that's all I can ask for.'"

Greencastle will take on District 1 champ Strath Haven (21-4) in the semifinals on Monday. Time and location is TBD.

Chambersburg 9, Nazareth 1

The Trojans got off to a hot start and never looked back.

Saleen Null got it started with a 3-run single in the first, a part of a four-run inning and from that point it was all Chambersburg as it got the quarterfinal win.

The Paetow sisters came up big throughout the game, going a combined 6-for-7. Sam had four RBIs in the game.

Kylee Miller did her job on the mound once again, giving up only the one run on eight hits in six innings of work. Kori Leedy came in to shut the door in the seventh.

The Trojans have an uphill climb in front of them, as they will face undefeated District 1 champ North Penn (26-0), who just knocked off Hazelton, 18-0. That game will be on Monday, with a time and location TBD.