Brian Hagberg
YOUNGSVILLE, Pa. – The Youngsville Eagles are flying high.
The Youngsville baseball team learned Friday that it had earned a spot in the District 10 playoffs for the first time since 2011.
The Eagles, who earned the No. 5 seed in Class 1A, will square off with No. 4 Maplewood on Wednesday at Slippery Rock University. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
“The team is pumped up and can’t wait till Wednesday,” Youngsville coach Eddie Dorunda said.
The Eagles finished the year with an even 9-9 overall record (7-9 in Region 3) and a game back of Maplewood and Cambridge Springs (both 8-8) in the Region standings. The Eagles were on the bubble following Thursday’s loss at Cambridge Springs.
“It was definitely a pleasant surprise, after losing (Thursday) in what we thought was a must-win game to keep our playoff hopes alive,” Dorunda said.
Youngsville was rewarded for its substantial improvement over its 2021 record (4-11 overall, 4-8 Region 3) with a playoff berth, the program’s first in over a decade.
“The coaching job that Ed Dorunda and his staff have done in just a short time is nothing short of amazing,” Youngsville Athletic Director Clay Hayes said. “He has those boys playing competitive and inspired baseball. They are a young team that works hard and sticks together. They have faced a lot of adversity in the last couple of years and have risen to the challenge. All of Youngsville can be proud of this high character group that has excelled in the classroom and on the baseball field all year.”
Though it will be the first taste of the postseason for many players, they’ll have a familiar foe in the Tigers. Youngsville and Maplewood split their regular season meetings with the Eagles defeating the Tigers, 8-3, on May 4, and Maplewood getting a 17-8 win a week later.
“This will be the majority of the team’s first experience in playoffs for any sport, let alone baseball,” Dorunda said. “The entire team from top to bottom worked their tails off to try and put Youngsville Baseball back on the map.”
Sophomore Nate Lucks leads the Youngsville pitching staff with a 6-0 record in nine appearances (four starts). Lucks sports a 2.79 ERA, giving up 15 earned runs in 37 2/3 innings. He gave up 33 hits, walked 23, and struck out 42.
Fellow sophomore Matt DeSimone paced the Eagles offensive attack with a .692 batting average and 1.688 OPS. He was second on the team with 15 RBIs and had four doubles, a triple, and a home run. Lucks was second on the team with a .450 average and 1.068 OPS. Lucks led the Eagles with seven doubles and 26 RBIs.
Saegertown is the top seed in Class 1A followed by Rocky Grove at No. 2, Cochranton at No. 3, Maplewood at No. 4, Youngsville at No. 5, and defending champion Kennedy Catholic at No. 6. Cochranton and KC will play as the second half of a doubleheader with the Eagles and Tigers.
The Youngsville/Maplewood winner will face Saegertown, while Rocky Grove will take on the Cochranton/KC winner, on Friday, May 27 at times/locations to be announced.
The semifinal winners will play for the District 10 Class 1A championship on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, at a site/time to be determined.
Full brackets: Class 1A • Class 2A • Class 3A • Class 4A • Class 6A • Class 6A Subregional w/D6
BREAKDOWN BY CLASSIFICATION
Class 1A
Seeding
1. Saegertown
2. Rocky Grove
3. Cochranton
4. Maplewood
5. Youngsville
6. Kennedy Catholic
First Round – Wednesday, May 25
(6) Kennedy Catholic vs. (3) Cochranton, 6:30 p.m. at SRU
(5) Youngsville vs. (4) Maplewood, 4 p.m. at SRU
Semifinals – Friday, May 27
Youngsville/Maplewood winner vs. (1) Saegertown
Kennedy Catholic/Cochranton winner vs. (2) Rocky Grove
Championship Game – Monday, May 30
Semifinal winners at TBA
Class 2A
Seeding
1. Sharpsville
2. Wilmington
3. West Middlesex
4. Lakeview
5. Cambridge Springs
6. Mercer
7. Union City
8. Iroquois
Quarterfinals – Monday, May 23
(8) Iroquois vs. (1) Sharpsville at SRU, 7 p.m.
(7) Union City vs. (2) Wilmington at Westminster College, 4:30 p.m.
(6) Mercer vs. (3) West Middlesex at Westminster College, 2 p.m.
(5) Cambridge Springs vs. (4) Lakeview at SRU, 2 p.m.
Semifinals – Thursday, May 26
Cambridge Springs/Lakeview winner vs. Iroquois/Sharpsville winner, TBA
Mercer/Westmiddlesex winner vs. Union City/Wilmington winner, TBA
Championship Game – Monday, May 30
Semifinal winners at SRU, 1:30 p.m.
Class 3A
Seeding
1. Hickory
2. Titusville
3. Fairview
4. North East
5. Franklin
6. Sharon
7. Mercyhurst Prep
8. Girard
Quarterfinals – Monday, May 23
(8) Girard vs. (1) Hickory at SRU, 4:30 p.m.
(7) Mercyhurst Prep vs. (2) Titusville at Mercyhurst University, 11:30 a.m.
(6) Sharon vs. (3) Fairview at Mercyhurst University, 4:30 p.m.
(5) Franklin vs. (4) North East at Mercyhurst University, 2 p.m.
Semifinals – Thursday, May 26
Franklin/North East winner vs. Girard/Hickory winner at TBA
Sharon/Fairview winner vs. Mercyhurst Prep/Titusville winner at TBA
Championship Game – Monday, May 30
Semifinal winners at SRU, 4 p.m
Class 4A
Seeding
1. Cathedral Prep
2. Slippery Rock
3. Corry
4. Grove City
5. Meadville
6. Harbor Creek
7. Fort LeBoeuf
8. General McLane
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, May 24
(8) General McLane vs. (1) Cathedral Prep at Mercyhurst University, 2 p.m.
(7) Fort LeBoeuf vs. (2) Slippery Rock at SRU, 6:30 p.m.
(6) Harbor Creek vs. (3) Corry at Mercyhurst University, 4:30 p.m.
(5) Meadville vs. (4) Grove City at SRU, 4 p.m.
Semifinals – Thursday, May 26
Meadville/Grove City winner vs. General McLane/Cathedral Prep winner, TBA
Harbor Creek/Corry winner vs. Fort LeBoeuf/Slippery Rock winner, TBA
Championship Game – Monday, May 30
Semifinal winners at TBA
CLASS 6A
Seeding
1. McDowell
2. Erie
Championship Game – Friday, May 27
(2) Erie vs. (1) McDowell at TBA
Subregional Game – Thursday, June 2
District 6 Champion vs. District 10 Champion at Mount Aloysius College, 4 p.m.
