New Era baseball writer Harold Zeigler was in Ephrata on Tuesday for a District 3 playoff double-dip featuring a pair of Lancaster County teams. In Quad-A, Solanco continued its playoff push by advancing to the title game. But Lancaster Catholic saw its season coming to a halt in a Double-A game. Here’s a recap:
Another game, another hero for Solanco’s baseball team.
This hero, however, was the most unlikely.
A grand slam home run from the No. 9 hitter in the lineup?
Ben L. Miller could only laugh at the irony.
“I don’t know,’’ Solanco’s junior shortstop said. “I’ve been in a slump lately.’’
Dropped from the No. 2 spot in the order to No. 9 at the beginning of the postseason, Miller took his turn in the spotlight Tuesday night, belting a grand slam around the left field foul pole to ignite Solanco’s 9-5 victory over Exeter in the District 3 Quad-A semifinals at Ephrata’s War Memorial Field.
Miller’s homer gave the Mules a 4-0 lead in the second inning, and, although it was a bit tense down the stretch, they held on for their seventh straight win.
It was a momentous victory for the program.
The Lancaster-Lebanon League champs, now 19-6, advance to the District 3 championship game for the first time in school history.
The Mules will take on Cumberland Valley (17-7) on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Hershey High’s Memorial Field.
In addition to a spot in the title game, Solanco also earns a berth in next week’s state playoffs, scheduled to begin Monday.
It’s the first time in program history Solanco has reached States.
“We’re in unchartered territory,’’ Solanco coach Dave Wimer said. “And we’re loose. It was the last goal we had, and here we are. Let’s play ball.’’
Lancaster Catholic didn’t fare as well in the first game of the doubleheader. The Crusaders lost to Kutztown 2-1 in the District 3 Double-A semifinals.
Because only two Double-A teams from District 3 advance to States, Catholic’s season is over. The Crusaders finish 13-10.
While Catholic’s magic ride is over, Miller’s heroics helped keep Solanco’s season alive.
A walk and two errors loaded the bases when he came to the plate with two outs in the second inning.
Miller ripped a 2-1 fastball from Exeter pitcher Matt Shellabear and drove it over the fence down the line.
“I just said, ‘If it’s a curve, hit it to right. If it’s a fastball, drive it’,’’ Miller said. “I just turned on it.’’
It was only Miller’s second career home run.
“I hit one last year that hit the top of the fence and fell over,’’ he said.
Miller, who was 1-for-2, is among the many Solanco players who have gotten hot at the plate at the right time.
Since being demoted to the No. 9 spot, he’s hit in seven straight games. In the playoffs, he’s hitting .389 with five runs scored and eight RBIs. This after hitting under .300 in the regular season.
Solanco pounded out 11 hits against Exeter (16-8), raising its average to .417 in the postseason.
“We’ve just been on a roll,’’ Miller said.
Although Miller said he knew “right away’’ after his slam that his team would win, Exeter made it tight.
Solanco was up 7-1 after three, but the Eagles got a two-run homer from Temple recruit Jordan Cannon in the fourth, an RBI double from Cannon in the fifth, and added a run on a ground out in the sixth.
Solanco then pulled away in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Andrew Gordon and an RBI double by Jason Long.
Asked if his team can now be officially proclaimed the best in Solanco baseball history, Wimer said proudly, “I’m going to say they are.’’
Kutztown 2, Catholic 1
A perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Brock Krumanocher in the bottom of the sixth broke a 1-1 tie and gave Kutztown (16-7) its win over Catholic.
Freddie Jankowski had two of Catholic’s four hits off pitcher Trent Mertz.
“We have set the bar now for Catholic baseball,’’ said coach Mike Hoffman. “I expect to be here every year for the next four, five years. I’ve got a 15-2 JV team coming along, with (six varsity) starters back. We’re going to be here for a while.’’
