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This article was updated, as Dan tried to reclassify the two teams to 4A in the earlier version.
Cougars Blank Red Land, Secure District 3’s Top Seed
On Tuesday, Palmyra clinched the Mid-Penn Keystone Division title. Two days later, the Cougars returned home with another opportunity in front of them, this time looking to secure the top seed in the District 3 Class 5A playoffs.
Palmyra took care of that business on Thursday, using a combined shutout from Chuck Gnall and Matthew Eldridge to defeat Red Land 7-0.
The Cougars opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st when Eldridge lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the game’s first run, giving Palmyra an early 1-0 lead.
That score held until the 4th, when Palmyra gave itself some breathing room. Ezra Good delivered the biggest swing of the inning, ripping an inside-the-park home run that scored two runs and pushed the Cougars ahead. Another run came home on an error, stretching the lead to 4-0.
With Gnall working clean innings on the mound and the defense playing error-free behind him, Palmyra stayed in control. The Cougars turned one double play and did not commit an error, helping keep Red Land from turning its hits into runs.
Palmyra added three more runs in the 5th to put the game fully out of reach. The Cougars finished with eight hits and continued to pressure Red Land with their speed, stealing five bases in the win.
Gnall earned the win, throwing six scoreless innings while allowing seven hits, striking out seven, and walking one. Eldridge finished the shutout in relief, tossing a scoreless 7th and striking out the final batter of the game.
At the plate, Adam Strohecker and Jesse Willi each collected two hits for Palmyra. Good drove in two runs, while Nolan Bown, Eldridge, and Strohecker also drove in runs for the Cougars.
For Red Land, Kaden Schmick and Lucas Elder each had two hits, while Liam Brenner and Nolan Rhine also added hits for the Patriots.
Palmyra improved to 18-1 with the win and will finish the regular season on Monday with a road game at CD East before beginning its postseason run as the top team in District 3.
Palmyra 7, Red Land 0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gettysburg | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 3 |
| Palmyra | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | X | 16 | 15 | 1 |
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Palmyra Leaders
Nolan Bown: 1-2, R, RBI, 2B, 2 BB
Matthew Eldridge: 1-3, RBI, SF
Jesse Willi: 2-4
Ezra Good: 1-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
Adam Strohecker: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, SB
Logan Kriner: 1-2, BB, SB
Max Woodley: 1-3
Pitching
Chuck Gnall (W): 6.0 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Matthew Eldridge: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Red Land Leaders
Kaden Schmick: 2-3
Lucas Elder: 2-2, 2B
Liam Brenner: 1-3
Nolan Rhine: 1-2
Noah Elder: 1-3
Cofini: 1-1
Pitching
Liam Brenner: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Luke Celtruda: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Last Game: Strohecker, Cougars Power Past Gettysburg to Clinch Keystone Division Crown
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