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Palmyra Finishes Regular Season 19-1 With Big 4th Inning at CD East
Having already clinched the Mid Penn Keystone Division Championship and the No. 1 seed in the District 3 Class 5A playoff field, Palmyra closed out its 2026 regular season on Monday with a road trip to Central Dauphin East.
The Cougars made sure to carry momentum into the postseason, using a 13-run 4th inning to pull away for a 19-5 win over the Panthers.
Palmyra jumped ahead early in the top of the 1st, as Matthew Eldridge singled down the right-field line to bring in the game’s first run. The Cougars added another run on a passed ball before an error allowed a third run to score, giving Palmyra a 3-0 lead before CD East came to the plate.
Central Dauphin East answered with two runs in the bottom half, but the game remained 3-2 until Palmyra broke it open in the 4th.
The Cougars’ massive inning started with Logan Kriner doubling home two runs. Aidan Willard followed with a double that scored another run, and Adam Strohecker added an RBI double of his own. Joey White then singled in a run before an error allowed another Palmyra run to cross.
Later in the inning, Willard came through again with a two-run double. Eldridge added a sacrifice fly, another CD East error brought in two more runs, and White singled again to drive in two more, helping Palmyra turn a tight game into a 16-2 lead.
On the mound, Eldridge earned the win for Palmyra. He allowed five hits and two runs over three innings, striking out two and walking none. Nate Holt followed with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out two without allowing a hit, before Grady Stephens finished the game.
Palmyra finished with 12 hits and 12 walks. Kriner helped drive the middle of the order, going 2-3 with three RBI, a double, and two walks. White also went 2-3 with two RBI and two walks, while Willard finished 2-3 with two RBI, two doubles, and two walks.
Central Dauphin East was led by Colin McDonel, who went 1-3 with a double and three RBI. Lucas Kern went 2-3 with an RBI, while the Panthers finished with seven hits.
Palmyra finishes the regular season at 19-1. Now just one win away from making a return trip to the PIAA State Tournament, the Cougars will be back in action next Monday when they host a District 3 Class 5A quarterfinal.
Palmyra 19, CD East 5
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmyra | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 19 | 12 | 2 |
| Central Dauphin East | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
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Palmyra Leaders
Logan Kriner: 2-3, R, 3 RBI, 2B, 2 BB
Aidan Willard: 2-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B, 2 BB
Joey White: 2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Matthew Eldridge: 1-3, 2 RBI, SF
Gabe Kern: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, BB
Max Woodley: 1-3, R, RBI, 2 BB
Adam Strohecker: 1-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB
Nolan Bown: 0-3, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB
Pitching
Matthew Eldridge (W): 3.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Nate Holt: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Grady Stephens: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Central Dauphin East Leaders
Colin McDonel: 1-3, 3 RBI, 2B
Lucas Kern: 2-3, R, RBI
Noah Davidson: 1-2, R, BB
Sorciez: 1-3, R
Dwan Barton: 0-3, R, BB
Lucas Smith: 1-2, R, RBI
Pitching
Alex Brandt: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Logan Wolgamuth: 1.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Josiah Thompson: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
Sorciez: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Last Game: Cougars Blank Red Land, Secure District 3’s Top Seed
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