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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Liberty heads to finals

Liberty will be looking to make District 11 history on Wednesday night when the Hurricanes play in their fourth straight district championship at DeSales’ Butz Field.

The Hurricanes take on Parkland in the 6A finale with a chance to become the first big school in District 11 history to win four straight district titles.

And of course the team standing in their way will be the Trojans, who were the last team to beat the Hurricanes this season, taking home a 7-5 victory in the EPC championship just over a week ago.

Parkland (19-5) was also the last team to win three straight district titles from 2013-2015 before Liberty’s current run on the local landscape and a showdown between two of the league’s biggest programs is fitting as the Hurricanes (20-5) look to make history.

Liberty advanced to the final with a 1-0 victory over Freedom on Sunday, their third straight win over the rival Patriots by one run this season.

Freedom (17-7) outhit Liberty 9-2 on the afternoon, but stranded seven and watched the Hurricanes get their lone run in the second inning when Jaxon Horvath scored on a Willie Cruz sacrifice fly to usher in the game’s only run.

Michael Mariano threw a complete game in the win for Liberty, striking out four in the process, as the Liberty defense kept Freedom’s offense at bay throughout the afternoon.

Now, the task of beating Parkland on Wednesday night with 6:05 p.m. start is at hand and head coach Andy Pitsilos will approach the contest just like any other game for his group.

“Our keys to win is to play a clean game and hit the ball,” said Pitsilos. “Throw strikes and make them hit and then play good defense.”

Parkland needed a two-out RBI single by Brody Morabito in the bottom of the seventh to keep their season alive in a 3-2 win over Nazareth in the other semifinal on Sunday.

Both teams went to extra innings in their last go round in the EPC final with Parkland pulling out two runs in the top of the eighth for a 7-5 victory.

Regardless of the winner on Wednesday, both teams have qualified for the PIAA tournament.

Bethlehem Catholic (9-12) saw their season come to an end in the 4A semifinals, falling to Tamaqua 4-1.

Tamaqua’s Mason Ligenza hit a solo home run in the first inning and then struck out 10 on the mound to help the Blue Raiders advance to the 4A final.

Press photo by Don HerbMax Landis scores a run against Parkland in the EPC baseball finals. The two teams will square off again, this time in the District 11 finals on Wednesday.
Press photo by Matthew BreinerBecahi’s Bryce Brawn throws to first base for an out during the Hawks victory over Jim Thorpe.
Press photo by Linda RothrockFreedom’s Santiago Rodriguez Rosales connects on a pitch during the Patriot’s victory over Emmaus.