- Times Leader

First Posted:

At the end of the day, it’s just a coincidence. These state brackets often line up the same way, with the same districts facing each other in the same rounds.

Still, the Tunkhannock baseball team might have a good omen heading into today’s PIAA Class 3A semifinal matchup against Blue Mountain at King’s College’s Lipo Field.

Only one Wyoming Valley Conference squad has ever won a state baseball title at any level. That would be the 2008 Berwick Bulldogs, who beat Blue Mountain at King’s in the semifinals to reach the title game.

That bit of info was enough to cause Tunkhannock’s Gary Custer to light up. The Tigers coach is friends with Berwick coach Brian Pinterich, who guided the Bulldogs to that surprising state crown three years ago.

Berwick’s win gave a spark to the rest of the league, including Tunkhannock.

“Oh definitely,” Custer said. “I’ve talked to (Pinterich) quite frequently. And he said, ‘I’ll tell you what – I won a state championship with a lesser quality team.’ “

There’s no question the talent is there for Tunkhannock (18-2), which has won back-to-back District 2 championships, reaching the state quarterfinals last season before bowing out.

As a team, the Tigers are batting .351 in six postseason games, led by Virginia recruit Mike Papi, who is 8-for-13 (.615) with three doubles, two home runs and nine RBI.

Fellow senior Kyle Custer is at .600 with three doubles, three triples and a home run. Rich Condeelis (.583) and Mike Healey (.421) have driven in eight and seven runs, respectively.

And, of course, Healey is 3-0 on the mound with a 2.00 ERA this postseason, striking out 26 in 21 innings while walking just four.

In his last two starts, the UConn-bound senior has surrendered just one run on four hits in 13 innings.

Healey said after his complete-game win in the quarterfinals, he hopes to get the ball to start today’s game. He would likely face off against Blue Mountain’s Jake Cryts, a junior right-hander who sports an ERA of 1.43 in 54 innings through the regular season and playoffs.

The Eagles (20-4) have won three of the last four District 11 Class 3A titles and are looking to be the first team in school history – in any sport – to play in a state championship game.

A win will put the Tigers into the state championship game for the first time in program history, facing either Elizabeth Forward or Northern York on Friday at Penn State’s Medlar Field in State College.

Tunkhannock last reached this level in 1999, when the Tigers lost to eventual state champion Chambersburg in the PIAA 3A semifinals – back when 3A was the highest classification in Pennsylvania high school baseball.

They’ll get another shot to reach the biggest stage today.

“It’s exciting. It really is,” Custer said. “I’m so happy for the kids and I’m proud of them. They play the game the right way.”

UP NEXT


UP NEXT

PIAA Class 3A semifinals

Tunkhannock vs. Blue Mountain

King’s College’s Lipo Field

Record: 18-2

District 2 champions

Coach: Gary Custer

Possible lineup

Player…(Playoff AVG)

Alex Zaner, 2b

at Berwick…L, 5-3

at Wyoming Area…W, 7-0

Dallas…W, 9-0

Wyoming Valley West…W, 5-3

at Coughlin…W, 15-3

Nanticoke…W, 15-0

at Hazleton Area…W, 4-0

Pittston Area…W, 4-3

Crestwood…W, 12-1

at Holy Redeemer…W, 10-9

Wyoming Area…W, 13-9

Berwick…W, 12-1

at Dallas…L, 6-5

at Wyoming Valley West…W, 13-0

District 2 tournament

Crestwood…W, 6-3

Dallas…W, 7-3

Abington Heights…W, 5-4

vs. West Scranton…W, 10-0

PIAA tournament

vs. Jersey Shore…W, 1 1-7

vs. Mechanicsburg…W, 4-1

Record: 20-4

District 1 1 champions

Coach: Tom Kramer

Possible lineup

Player…(Season AVG)

Nate Yingling, lf

at Wilson…L, 13-8

at Northwestern Lehigh…W, 15-1

at Pine Grove…W, 1-0

North Schuylkill…W, 3-2

Tamaqua…W, 17-0

at Jim Thorpe…W, 21-2

at Schuylkill Valley…W, 15-9

Panther Valley…W, 3-0

at Panther Valley…W, 6-1

Pine Grove…W, 6-1

at North Schuylkill…L, 7-6

Danville…W, 14-4

Pottsville…L, 3-0

at Tamaqua…W, 1 1-4

at Pottsville…W, 6-5

at Selinsgrove…L, 1 1-7

Jim Thorpe…W, 1 1-1

at Reading…W, 6-0

Fleetwood…W, 7-5

District 11 tournament

vs. Palisades…W, 5-1

vs. Southern Lehigh…W, 10-3

vs. Pottsville…W, 7-3

PIAA tournament

vs. Upper Moreland…W, 5-3

vs. Twin Valley…W, 9-3