Fleetwood denied championship game by East Pennsboro walk-off
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ENOLA — Adrick Bayer’s bases-loaded bunt single in the seventh sent home the winning run as second-seeded East Pennsboro edged visiting Fleetwood 3-2 in a District 3 Class 4A semifinal Thursday.
The sixth-seeded Tigers (14-9) had taken a 2-1 lead with a run in the top of the seventh before allowing two in the bottom half.
Fleetwood now faces an elimination game Tuesday against fourth-seeded James Buchanan, which fell to Elco in the other semifinal. The winner qualifies for the PIAA Tournament; the loser’s season is over.
East Pennsboro (18-2) goes for its second straight championship and fourth since 2019 in Tuesday’s championship against Elco.
The Tigers got a strong start from sophomore Wylie Loy, who allowed seven hits but just one run over 5 2/3 inning. He gave way to Cane Cromer in a 1-1 tie.
Michael Thalassinos held the Tigers to one run on seven hits over six innings.
Carson Brey went 3-for-3 and Nick Noll had two hits and scored two runs for Fleetwood, which had nine hits.
The Panthers mounted their winning rally on a triple by Aaron Angelo and walks to Isaac Gilbert and Andrew Seibert, which loaded the bases. Angelo scored on a passed ball. With first base open the Tigers intentionally walked Ryan Seibert.
Gilbert’s one-out bunt ended it.
Angelo was 3-for-4 and Bayer 3-for-3 for the Panthers.
Fleetwood has reached a district championship game just once, in 2008.
