RECAP >> Senior Luke Deschenes was dominant on the mound and his teammates supported his outstanding effort with plenty of offense as Emmaus cruised to an easy 9-1 win over rival Parkland in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference semifinals on Tuesday afternoon at DeSales University’s Wheiland Park.
Deschenes pitched 6 2-3 strong innings allowing just five hits as he improved to 9-1 on the season in leading the Hornets, who are headed back to defend their league title after defeating the Trojans for the second time this season.
Awaiting Emmaus (18-4) in Thursday’s 7 p.m. championship game back at DeSales will be the winner of top-seeded Liberty or fifth-seeded Nazareth who met in the second semifinal.
The Hornets scored early and often against their arch-rival plating three runs in the top of the first inning and then adding three more in the third.
Sophomore designated hitter Josiah Williams had a big day at the plate going 3-for-4 with three RBI, while senior centerfield Jaden Gallagher added two hits and drove in three runs, including a solo home run to lead off the game in the top of the first inning off Parkland starter junior Dylan Duborg who lasted just 1/3 of an inning.
Senior shortstop Anthony Viola and junior left fielder Zach McEllroy both added two hits, while sophomore right fielder Noah Hogan reached base all four times on walks for Emmaus, which had 11 hits in the game off four Trojan pitchers.
Parkland (15-6) avoided the shutout with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Junior catcher Matt Razzis had two of his team’s hits.
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Em – 303 101 1 – 9-11-0
Pa – 000 000 1 – 1-5-2
Luke Deschenes, Ryan Latchford (7) and Dom Chiego; Dylan Duborg, Sean Rivera (1), Nathan Bartholomew (4), Steven Sepko (7) and Matt Razzis. WP – Deschenes (9-1), LP – Duborg.
2B – Barthol (Park)
HR – Gallagher (Em, solo 1st)