Editor's note - Wednesday's LVC final game against Parkland comes after Press deadlines. Look for coverage of the game in next week's edition.

When pitcher Jacob Wloczewski drew the opening round game of the Lehigh Valley Conference Championships, he knew that the adrenaline would be pumping on both benches.

He used that knowledge to his advantage as he tossed a shutout against Emmaus High School at Hackett Park in Easton, sending the Zephyrs into the championship game on Wednesday evening.

"I just wanted to try and get ahead," said Wloczewski who went the distance in the 2-0 win. "I knew my guys were going to come out and make the plays, cause everyone was pumped up; everyone wanted to be here; everyone's energy was good. I just wanted to do my part to help us win."

He managed to work ahead most of the game, using his full repertoire and harnessing the Green Hornets adrenaline who seemed anxious at the plate. Even when they put the bat on the ball, they rarely made solid contact. In fact, Wloczewski was so efficient that he allowed just two hits the entire game. He also fanned six while only walking one en route to the victory.

Wloczewski said the moment and the stage didn't affect them.

"I don't think we had any butterflies," said Wloczewski. "Everyone was calm and everyone was excited to be here. Everyone came out to play today."

Manager Shaun O'Boyle said that getting on the board in the bottom of the first was important since it got everyone relaxed and confident.

"It's big to get your pitcher a lead," said O'Boyle. "We focused on getting the lead so he can just throw strikes. It's relaxing."

The Zephs scored their initial run when courtesy runner Dominic Sinatore crossed home during a run-down play as Jeff Charles eluded the tag long enough for Sinatore to score.

O'Boyle said that Wloczewski threw great in shutting down the Green Hornets.

"I think he kept them off balance," said O'Boyle. "He kept his ball down, and we said that if he keeps on hitting that knee-high strike, which he had a lot today, he's going to be tough to hit."

O'Boyle also knew that playing in the LVC Championships for the first time may bring some unwanted distractions.

"We talked about it and said that you have to block all this stuff out," said O'Boyle. "No one here is really used to playing in a game of this magnitude, and we just wanted to focus on blocking everything out."

Even a long layoff in the bottom of the 6th which involved a Green Hornet pitching change, and ultimately produced an insurance run, didn't faze the senior hurler.

"I was calm," said Wloczewski. "I wasn't even thinking about it. Time was flying by so it didn't really affect me at all."

In that inning, the Zephs opened the frame with a single off the bat of Elliot Mortimer. That was followed by a bunt that was mishandled at third which was further compounded by a throwing error that sent the ball up the right field line, winding up under some netting which was ruled out of bounds, nullifying Mortimer's run. It seemed he would be stranded at third since both Zach Delp and Tyler Bridgwood were unable to bring him in after the pitching change. But after an intentional walk to Ryan Bonshak, Jonathan Winter worked a full count, eventually drawing a walk that forced in Mortimer with the insurance run.

Now that Wloczewski got them in position to win their first LVC baseball title, he said it's a matter of duplicating their performance against the Green Hornets.

"We have to come out and play like we did today," said Wloczewski. "If we do that, we're not going to have any problems."

With Mortimer set to take the hill against Parkland High School who won the nightcap at Hackett Park, O'Boyle echoed his pitcher, saying that they would use the same formula that worked against Emmaus.

"Keep them off balance, throw strikes … and make the routine plays, and hit the ball hard," said O'Boyle.