Baseball: Palmyra Stays Perfect, Powers Past Conestoga Valley to Reach District 3 Championship

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District Semifinal

#1 Palmyra 10, #12 Conestoga Valley

Palmyra entered the District 3 Playoffs after going undefeated in their 20 regular-season games. In the quarterfinals, they passed their first postseason test by defeating Northern York. That win clinched a State Playoff berth for the second straight year, but given the success the Cougars have found this season, the goals go well beyond just making States.

The path toward bigger things continued on Friday afternoon when Palmyra hosted Conestoga Valley, the #12 seed that came on strong late in the season with clutch performances that had caught many opponents off guard. Impressive wins over Twin Valley and Exeter set up their shot at top-seeded Palmyra.

Brayden Bown took the mound for the Cougars. In the top of the 1st, Bown set the Buckskins down in order. When Palmyra came to the plate, they strung together three straight singles by Nate Osteen, Ty Peck, and Aiden Willard, but were held scoreless as Conestoga Valley escaped the jam.

In the top of the 2nd, Bown struck out the side before Palmyra proved their bats were still hot. J. Hathaway led off the inning with a line-drive double. Adam Strohecker then reached safely on a bunt. The next batter, Julian Meley, singled to score Jack Hathaway. Alex Dorta followed with a fielder’s choice that brought home Strohecker. Osteen then hit a sacrifice fly to score Meley. The inning ended with the Cougars holding a 3-0 lead heading into the 3rd.

In the top of the 3rd, Conestoga Valley began to claw back. An RBI triple and aggressive baserunning, including a steal of home, cut Palmyra’s lead to 3-2. In the bottom half, Hathaway doubled again, but the Cougars were otherwise held in check.

The 4th inning began with Bown retiring the Buckskins in order once again. Palmyra then capitalized on an Osteen walk and a defensive error, which allowed him to score on a Willard fly ball. The frame ended with the Cougars up 4-2.

Conestoga Valley led off the 5th with a solo home run, making it a 4-3 game. It remained that way as both teams entered the 6th.

Following a Conestoga Valley double, Clint Bricker entered in relief of Bown and held the Buckskins in check. Conestoga Valley would not be as fortunate when Palmyra came to bat in the bottom of the 6th.

The Cougars erupted offensively. Osteen led off with a single and scored when Peck followed with one of his own. Willard then crushed a two-run homer in the next at-bat. After two outs, Palmyra sparked another rally. Hathaway drew a walk, Strohecker singled, and a Meley bunt resulted in both runners scoring. Dorta capped the inning with an RBI single to score Meley, making it 10-3.

With a commanding lead, the game was handed off to Willard, who shut down any hopes of a Conestoga Valley comeback in the 7th.

Bown pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and striking out 7. Bricker tossed 0.2 innings (1 H, 1 K), and Willard closed it with 1.0 inning and 2 strikeouts.

On offense, Palmyra was led by:

• Aiden Willard: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R

• Nate Osteen: 2-for-2, RBI, 2 R, BB, SB

• Ty Peck: 2-for-3, RBI, HBP

• A. Strohecker: 2-for-4, 2 R

• Julian Meley: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 R, BB

• Jack Hathaway: 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 R, BB

Palmyra (22-0) will play in Monday’s District 3 Championship against Lampeter-Strasburg. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. at Penn Medicine Field, home of the Lancaster Barnstormers.