Karnish escapes early jam, helps Fleetwood return to PIAA baseball tourney

(This story has been updated with details and post-game reaction.)

Jake Karnish walked three straight batters in the first inning Friday in Fleetwood’s state-qualifier against Susquehanna Township. That actually turned out to be a good thing for the Tigers.

Karnish struck out the next two batters to end the threat and Tigers used that momentum to carry them to a 1-0 win at Susquehanna Township, clinching a berth in the PIAA Class 4A Tournament.

“I think that was a tone-setter for us,” said Fleetwood coach Rolland Green. “It was like, ‘We can play here.’ The momentum shifted a little bit. You could just feel that and see that.”

Karnish buckled down after that and combined with Ryan Moser on a six-hit shutout that extends the ninth-seeded Tigers’ once-dreary season. It was Fleetwood’s second shutout of the district tournament; in four district games, it allowed five runs.

Fleetwood will open state play Monday at 1 at Lincoln High School against District 1 champ Monsignor Bonner. Fleetwood (10-13), the No. 3 finisher out of District 3, returns to the state tournament for the first time since 2008.

“I’m happy for the kids to get a taste of district and now state playoff baseball, (to see) what it’s really like,” said Green. “For the seniors, and for the young kids that are in the program, hopefully that’ll benefit us going forward. Right now there’s a lot of excitement, so it’s nice to get that back into the program.”

Karnish needed 34 pitches to escape the first but cruised after that, making it into the sixth inning. Moser took over with one on and one out and recorded the final five outs for the save, but it wasn’t a smooth finish.

The junior allowed a one-out double to Titus Shay followed by an infield single by Brayden Hertz that sent Shay to third. Moser got the next two batters to pop out, sending the Tigers back to the state tournament for the first time in 14 years.

“He’s been answering the call every time we put him in there,” Green said of Moser. “He’s been great in relief off the bench. He’s throwing with a lot of confidence. It’s nice to have somebody come in and help win the game, especially after the performances that your starting pitchers are giving you.”

Karnish, who picked up his third win, pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and striking out eight before reaching the PIAA pitch count limit. He lowered his ERA to 2.26.

Fleetwood’s staff ERA is now 2.26 after its fourth shutout. The Tigers have held eight opponents to one run or less and 11 to two runs or less.

Fleetwood snapped a scoreless tie in the sixth inning when Karnish reached on a single, moved up on Aiden Soumas’ sacrifice, then scored from second when shortstop Lucas Balistrere threw away Travis Loy’s ground ball.

Third-seeded Susquehanna Township (13-8) is eliminated after back-to-back losses in district play. Only the top three Class 4A teams from District 3 advance.

The Tigers managed just four hits, all singles, off Susquehanna Township starter Anden Howell, who went the distance. Howell struck out six and walked two. Zach Dillbeck had two of the hits and also walked.

The Tigers opened district play with a 3-1 win over Octorara and a 2-0 win at top-seeded West Perry. They fell to fifth-seeded Littlestown 4-0 on Tuesday, sending them into a do-or-die state qualifier against Susquehanna Township.

The Tigers were 3-8 at midseason after six straight losses, falling to Berks I champ Gov. Mifflin, Berks II and Berks League champ Muhlenberg, and Berks League runner-up Oley Valley during that stretch.

They have gone 7-5 since, and have won four of their last five.

In 2008, the Tigers opened state play with a 1-0 win over District 1 champ Sun Valley at West Chester University. They were eliminated in the state quarterfinals by District 11 champ Blue Mountain, 9-3 in 10 innings.