Who – District 11 runner-up Emmaus (22-5) vs District 2 champ Hazleton (21-1)
What – PIAA Class 6A Quarterfinals
When/Where – Thursday 6:30 pm/Walter Stump Stadium, Pine Grove
What’s on the line: A berth in the semifinals on Monday, June 13 vs winner of District 11 champ Liberty/District 12 champ LaSalle College
Coverage – LIVE: www.easternpasportsnetwork.com, pregame: 6:10 pm
Coaches – Emmaus – Jeremy Haas (4th year); Hazleton – Russ Canzler
Probables – Emmaus: Sr. CF Jaden Gallagher (.338), Sr. 3B/P Tyler LePage (.400/1st Team Lehigh Div.), Sr. C Dom Chiego (.402/1st Team Lehigh Div), Jr. LF Zach McEllroy (.397/1st Team Lehigh Div.), Sr. SS Anthony Viola (.348), Sr. P/1B Colin Foley (.348/1st Team Lehigh Div.), Sr. DH Luke Deschenes (.300, 11-1, 1.43 ERA, EPC 1st Team), Soph. DH Josiah Williams (.338), Soph. RF Noah Hogan (.136), Jr. 2B Ryan Latchford
Hazleton – Jr. C Grant Russo, Jr. 2B Brett Antolick (Texas A & M commit), Sr. SS Bryce Molinaro, Sr. CF Luke Russo, Jr. 3B Jatnk Diaz, Sr. P Nick Biasi (Florida St) , Sr. LF Jason Lazar, So. RF Jonas Aponick
GAME NOTES – Emmaus faces Hazleton for the second time this season in the all-important second meeting with a trip to the state semifinals on the line. The Cougars won the first meeting 9-0 at Church Lane Park back on April 24, one day after the Hornets suffered their first loss of the season in a 12-9 loss to rival Central Catholic. Emmaus managed just a pair of hits in the game off of Nick Biasi (Florida St. commmit) and Brett Antolick (Texas A & M) … Shortstop Bryce Molinaro went 3-for-4 with four RBI in the win …Both teams had tough opening-round matchups with the Hornets knocking off District 1 champ Owen J. Robets 1-0 behind an outstanding pitching performance by Luke Deschenes and Tyler LePage’s solo home run, while the Cougars also won by a 1-0 score against Coatesville, the third-place team from District 1 … Emmaus is appearing in the the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year after defeating Governor Mifflin (2-1, 11 innings) in the opening-round a year ago before falling to eventual state champ LaSalle College High School (21-8) …The Hornets also qualified for states in 2019 dropping an opening-round game to Central Bucks South 4-3 in 8 innings …Hazleton’s lone loss of the season came back on April 2 – a 4-1 defeat at North Penn. The Cougars have scored 10 or more runs in 14 of their games this season.