RECAP >> Owen J. Roberts entered the PIAA State Class 6A Baseball Tournament with the gaudy resume:
Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC-10) champions. District One champs. An incredible 23-game win streak.
None of that seemed to matter to Luke Deschenes and his Emmaus teammates.
Putting together what the senior called his best outing of the season, Deschenes dominated District One’s number one entry on the mound as he tossed a complete game, and classmateTyler LePage provided all the offense the Hornets would need as Emmaus hung on for a thrilling 1-0 win on Monday afternoon before a near-capacity crowd at Bear Stadium in Boyertown.
The victory advances the Hornets (22-5) to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year on Thursday where they’ll face District 2 champ Hazleton, which also won their opening round game by a 1-0 score over Coatesville, the third place team from District One. The site and time for the game will be announced tomorrow.
Emmaus was also able to pick up its first win at Bear Stadium in three tries after falling to eventual state champ LaSalle College last year and Central Bucks South in 2019.
Deschenes, the Hornets ace, was outstanding in picking up his 12th win of the season (12-1) as he tossed his fifth shutout, striking out nine and scattering seven hits.
The only run the right-hander would need came from LePage, who on the first pitch he saw from Jared Berish in the top of the fourth inning, blasted a solo home run over the 350-foot sign in right center field giving Emmaus a 1-0 lead.
LePage also delivered on the defense end as he came up with a number of outstanding plays at third base.
Owen J. Roberts threatened with runners on base in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings but Deschenes was able to keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard.
Berish was the tough-luck loser as he suffered his first loss of the season after giving up just one run on five hits. Junior catcher Jake Ambrosio was the only player in the game with multiple hits (2-for-3)
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Emmaus 1, Owen J. Roberts 0
Em – 000 100 0 – 1-5-0
OJ – 000 000 0 – 0-7-0
Luke Deschenes and Dominic Chiego. Jared Berish and Jake Ambrosio. WP – Deschenes (12-1), LP – Berish (5-1).
2B – Sabatino (OJR)
HR – LePage (fourth, solo)