MMI Prep’s chances of advancing out of the PIAA Class A quarterfinal round on Thursday were dealt a sharp blow right out of the gate.
The Preppers’ opponent, District 6 second seed Homer-Center, went to bat in the top of the first and didn’t stop until 17 runs had crossed the plate.
The Wildcats tacked on a few more for good measure and ended MMI Prep’s season with a 21-1 win over the Preppers at Bald Eagle Area High School.
Homer-Center will head to the Class A semifinal round on Monday to face District 1 champion Dock Mennonite.
Dom Shimko was the biggest bat in a lineup full of them for Homer-Center, with three hits and six RBI. He had two hits and drove in three runs in the massive first inning for the Wildcats. Homer-Center drew 12 walks and struck out just once.
MMI Prep managed to stave off the shutout in the third inning, with Andrew Pedri drawing a leadoff walk and scoring on an RBI groundout from Derek Radzwich.
Gavin Serock and Caleb Skuba both singled for MMI.
The Preppers end their season with a record of 9-14 and a District 2 Class A championship, the third straight district title for MMI Prep, which also won its state tournament opener each time.
PIAA Class A Quarterfinals
Homer-Center 21, MMI Prep 1 (3 inn.)
Homer-Center`AB`R`H`BI
Rado c`2`4`2`3
Budner p`3`1`2`2
Shimko ss`3`2`3`6
Turk rf`0`2`0`2
Fisher lf`3`1`0`1
Dunn 3b`1`3`1`3
Sharer 3b`1`1`0`0
Deyarmin cf`1`2`0`1
L.Shoup cf`1`0`0`0
Zerfoss 1b`1`3`1`1
Taylor 1b`0`0`0`0
C.Shoup 2b`1`2`0`1
Ringler 2b`1`0`0`0
Totals`18`21`9`20`12
MMI Prep`AB`R`H`BI
D.Radzwich cf`1`0`0`1
Serock 2b`2`0`1`0
Skuba p`2`0`1`0
Drobnock ss`1`0`0`0
Garcia 3b`1`0`0`0
Gombeda rf`1`0`0`0
B.Radzwich 1b`1`0`0`0
Santana c`1`0`0`0
Pedri lf`0`1`0`0
Totals`10`1`2`1
Homer-Center` ` `(17)40 — 21
MMI Prep` ` `001 — 1
2B — Shimko
Homer-Center`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Budner (W)`3.0`2`1`1`2`6
MMI Prep`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Skuba (L)`0+`3`6`6`3`0
B.Radzwich`0.1`2`9`9`2`0
Gombeda`2.2`4`6`6`7`1
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