Riverside baseball uses late surge to win PIAA 3A state title over Mount Carmel Area
Riverside baseball's championship hopes went down to the wire against Mount Carmel Area, but well-executed small ball in the sixth inning helped the Panthers claim a lead, and ultimately the PIAA 3A state championship in the 4-2 victory.
It was a slow start for both teams as neither side recorded a hit until the third inning. John Bowser was the one to break it open with a double to right center for Riverside.
Advertisement
Dylan Meyer followed suit with an RBI double of his own in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, starting pitcher Zach Hare kept the Mount Carmel bats at bay, allowing only one hit through the first five innings.
Riverside High School baseball does a dogpile after winning the PIAA 3A state championship over Mount Carmel Area on June 12, 2025
With how difficult it was to score, it felt like the Panthers' 2-0 lead might be enough to win the game, especially with how well Hare was pitching.
That was before the sixth inning got underway, when Jon Morgante singled to center field, and advanced to third on a throwing error by Hare that ended with the ball out of play.
After Drew Yagodzinski was hit by a pitch, another throwing error by the first baseman, who attempted to throw out the runner at home, allowed Lukas Carpenter to reach first safely via fielder's choice, then to second. Morgante was able to score, cutting the lead in half.
Advertisement
The next at-bat, Gabe Yuskoski hit a sacrifice fly to center, allowing a second run to score from third base. Riverside trailed 4-2 going into the bottom of the sixth, now in a positional one-eighty from when the inning started.
But it didn't take long for the Panthers to respond, quickly loading the bases with the first three batters. It was then up to Jackson Barber, who attempted to execute a suicide squeeze play.
Riverside High School baseball poses for a photo after winning the PIAA 3A state title over Mount Carmel Area
Mount Carmel pitcher Noah Shimko, who is 6-foot-4 and over 300 pounds, had to hustle off the mound to retrieve the ball. But Shimko couldn't corral it cleanly, forcing him to just hold on to the ball and letting a run come home.
Advertisement
With the score now 3-2, Riverside head coach Dan Oliastro decided to stick to what works - so he called for another squeeze play. It was executed well by Young, and the Panthers reclaimed the lead, only needing three more outs to win a state title.
Oliastro tried to let Hare finish the game, but after striking out the first batter, he reached his pitch count limit. It was still a gem from Hare, who threw 6 and 1/3 innings and recording 11 strikeouts.
The longtime head coach (54 years to be exact) gave the ball to Hunter Garvin, who struck out the last two batters to win the game.
PIAA 3A baseball championship preview: What to know as Riverside faces Mount Carmel Area
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: PIAA state baseball playoffs 2025: Riverside vs Mount Carmel Area
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
For back-to-back champ Panthers, the celebrations will continue before an important offseason begins
Associated Press SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup championship festivities have included an all-night celebration at a popular beach bar; crowd surfing, pole climbing and impromptu karaoke at a Miami nightclub; a Brad Marchand appearance at Dairy Queen; a few team dinners and a boat ride. That's just so far. They insist they've got more in them. 'We're not toning it down," defenseman Aaron Ekblad said. "We just won two Stanley Cups in a row. We deserve to have a good time.' The Panthers also partied hard after winning the franchise's first title a year ago. But some players have described those days as a surreal whirlwind of first-time experiences. This time around, the celebrations are different, as the reality of what they accomplished set in. 'There's a different feeling to it,' coach Paul Maurice said during the team's exit interviews on Saturday. 'Last year was more of a dream. ... That's the right word. It was a dream come true. It was euphoric. This year, it was an achievement. It was hard. It was hard all year. It was hard at camp. There were just so many places that if we had broken at that point or failed we would've all understood — 'OK, we did our best. We just couldn't get it done.' We never let that happen.' The coaches' celebrations, Maurice noted, have been much more subdued compared to last year: They had their first post-championship dinner as a staff Friday night. They joined some players on a boat ride. 'I haven't had a hangover yet,' Maurice said, 'so way ahead of where I was last year.' Maurice heard about his players' celebrations from his wife, who has shown him a few viral social media posts here and there. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said they're giving themselves 'permission' to celebrate more freely this year because they have already been through the experience. 'And don't get me wrong, it's still amazing,' he added, 'but now everyone knows how to sit back a little and enjoy it, because last year was so hectic. Like it happened to you for the first time ever, and you had been dreaming about it for so long.' The Panthers in fact celebrated so hard that the Stanley Cup itself got a little banged up. The silver chalice that has endured bumps and bruises throughout its 131-year existence was cracked at the bottom of the bowl the night of Florida's clinching Game 6 win over Edmonton, though Barkov noted the team hasn't received any harsh reprimands from the keepers of the Cup or the Hockey Hall of Fame. 'I think they've seen worse,' he quipped. 'I think every year they have to fix some part of it. But yeah, don't be stupid. Don't take it to the ocean, stuff like that. We should know the rules by now.' The Panthers' championship parade will be on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday — one of their last opportunities to celebrate together before the players disperse for the summer and general manager Bill Zito begins an important offseason. Free agency begins July 1, and while a good chunk of Florida's core — including Barkov and stars Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart — are already under long-term contracts, a few key contributors are set for free agency in Marchand, Ekblad and playoff MVP Sam Bennett. All three players have expressed their desire to stay in Florida. Bennett, who led all players with 15 postseason goals, said at the Miami nightclub E11even that he's not leaving. Marchand has publicly petitioned Zito to give him a contract. Ekblad, who was drafted by the Panthers in 2014, said Saturday that his representation has had conversations with the Panthers on a potential deal, but 'nothing material yet.' 'I've spent 11 years here,' Ekblad said. 'It's home, and I expect it to be home." Tkachuk, who will play in his fourth season with the Panthers next year, said he believes Florida's window to compete for titles remains wide open, and he hopes to compete with as many pieces from this year's run as possible. 'You're going to have a different roster each and every year," he said, "but hopefully the core of guys, we can continue building. With that being said, we've got some unbelievable players that are up for contracts that I hope they get every single cent they can because that's what you want for your best friends. It's time to cash in for some of those boys. Hopefully it's here.' ___ AP NHL: recommended
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Seiya Suzuki Player Props: June 21, Cubs vs. Mariners
Seiya Suzuki's Chicago Cubs face the Seattle Mariners on June 21 at 2:20 p.m. ET, and will see starter Emerson Hancock on the mound. Suzuki picked up one hit in his last game, finishing 1-for-3. Find odds, stats, and more below to make your Seiya Suzuki player prop bets. Suzuki has racked up a team-high 61 runs batted in (he's hit 18 home runs). Among batters in baseball, Suzuki ranks 10th in home runs and fourth in RBI. Watch tonight's Cubs game on Fubo! Seiya Suzuki Prop Bets and Odds How to Watch Chicago Cubs vs. Seattle Mariners Seiya Suzuki vs. Emerson Hancock Seiya Suzuki prop bet insights MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Saturday at 1:27 p.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Seiya Suzuki stats against the Mariners Mariners starter: Emerson Hancock
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Alec Burleson's two-run homer (8)
Stay hot, Max! His RBI double makes it 2-0 Phillies in the first Heck of a start for the Phillies on Wednesday afternoon. A night after homering, Max Kepler comes through with a RBI double to add on to the Phillies lead in the first hot, Max! His RBI double makes it 2-0 Phillies in the first originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia 0:48 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
