Indiana Area made history just three months ago when the boys’ swimming and diving team won the school’s first-ever team state championship. Now, the school has a chance at a second team championship, this time on the baseball diamond.
Jake Slebodnick has the story. (Indiana 10 Fleetwood 3)
Coach Dan Petroff says Indiana prepared well for Fleetwood pitcher Liam Hilbert, and it paid off.
Petroff says his team works hard and plays together, and he loves their dedication.
The coach says the win is a victory for the entire community, not just Indiana High School.
Senior Trevor Smith says Indiana has fought hard to get to the state championship game.
Shortstop Andrew McGee says Indiana’s secret is its cohesiveness.
Ben Ryan says the chance to play for the state championship has always been a dream.
Holy Ghost Prep knocked off Danville, 8-6, to complete the other half of the bracket and will face Indiana for the Quad-A state title on Thursday.
The only other Indiana County baseball team to make it to the state championship game was the 2005 Homer-Center team, which lost to Christopher Dock, 6-1, at what was then known as Blair County Ballpark.
The Marion Center girls won the state championship in cross country in 2018.
Indiana girls’ basketball (twice), Homer-Center, Marion Center, and River Valley girls’ basketball, Homer-Center football, and Indiana hockey have all made it as far as the state championship game.
PIAA
At First Commonwealth Bank Field yesterday, Avonworth scored three times in the first inning, extended their lead to 5-1, and held off a late charge by Punxsutawney to beat the Chucks, 5-3, in a Triple-A semifinal game. Punxsy scored twice in the 7th to pull to within two runs and had two runners on base before the game ended on a flyout.
It will be all private schools for the Class A baseball title. Faith Christian beat Bishop McCort, 6-1, to knock out the District 6 champs, and will play Eden Christian for the state title Friday.
In Class AA, District 6 champ Bald Eagle Area trounced North Star, 11-3, and will play Tri-Valley on Thursday in the championship game.
