Ryan Examitas’ 2-RBI single in the first inning proved to be all the runs Nativity BVM would need Thursday afternoon to advance to the PIAA Class 1A baseball semifinals.
Examitas sent a ball to left and scored Ryan Grabowski and Nick Wagner to take an early 2-0 lead. That was enough for Hilltoppers starter Stephen Karinch and closer Examitas, who escaped a little trouble late to get Nativity past MMI Preparatory School and into the semifinals, 3-1.
Grabowski singled, Wagner doubled, and Examitas brought them both home during a back-to-back-to-back hit parade in the top of the first. After that, Nativity managed just two base hits the rest of the game.
But Karinch didn’t need much support on Thursday. He limited the Preppers to five hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked three batters.
MMI Prep gave the Toppers a scare in the sixth inning when Caleb Skuba singled and Joshua Witner walked. Ben Drobnock singled to right to score Skuba but Karinch got Ben Gombeda swinging to end the threat and leave two runners stranded, including the tying run at third.
Karinch scored in the seventh inning to add a little insurance for Nativity. He drew a walk and stole second before scoring on consecutive errors by Preppers fielders.
The win puts Nativity over .500 for the season, with a 12-11 record. They’ll now face District 5 champion Southern Fulton (23-1) on Monday in the Class 1A semifinals.
In other action Thursday …
- Class 2A Baseball: Mount Union 4, Tri-Valley 3 (10 innings)
- Class 3A Softball: Pine Grove Area 10, Kutztown Area 8 (10 innings)
- Class 4A Softball: Valley View 6, North Schuylkill 2
- Class 2A Softball: Williams Valley 8, Bristol 5
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