Thursday, June 6, 2024 | Cresson, PA - The Indiana baseball team achieved something no other baseball team in the history of Indiana High School has done and that is make it to the PIAA Semifinals. This historic run by Indiana and first year Head Coach Dan Petroff is something to write about and the buzz surrounding the town of Indiana is growing in the baseball realm. Revenge on the field that saw Indiana's season come to a close last year against Bellefonte was the big talk of the day, and Indiana was ready for the challenge despite the bad memories being brought back at Mt. Aloysius College's baseball field.

The game started out by seeing East Pennsboro put up a quick two runs on the board in the 1st inning, but Indiana didn't waver, holding the Panthers to zero runs for the next four innings. In the bottom of the 4th, Indiana was finally able to get on the board and even the score at two when Charlie Manzi singled a ball up the middle to bring in Ben Ryan. Kadin Homer then doubled in Manzi to bring the second run across for Indiana. East Pennsboro tacked on three runs in the top of the 6th inning. Quite possibly one of the biggest plays of the game was when senior Tristan Redinger pinch hit in the bottom of the 6th and singled in Ben Ryan with a line drive over the short stop. Kadin Homer then stepped in and hit a sacrifice fly to bring Indiana's fourth run across. Trusty starter turned reliever in the playoffs Ryan Okopal fired 1 2/3 innings of no hit baseball with two walks and three strikeouts, he shut down East Pennsboro in the top of the 7th inning. Headed to the bottom of the 7th, with the top of the lineup due up, Trevor Smith singled down the left field line, followed by a heads up bunt down the first base line for a single from Andrew McGee. Hunter Martin then lined a ball down left field to tie the game up for Indiana. East Pennsboro chose to intentionally walk Charlie Manzi with one out to load the bases. Junior Mark Collinger was patient at the plate and in a 3-1 count watched a ball up and in to send Indiana to the PIAA 4A Quarterfinals for the first time in school history. Ryan Okopal would get the win on the mound for Indiana. 

Notably, Indiana had 10 hits on the offensive side of the ball. Trevor Smith had one hit and a run scored, Andrew McGee had a hit and a run scored, Ben Ryan had two hits at the plate and one run scored, Hunter Martin had a hit and an RBI, Charlie Manzi continued his hot streak going 2-2 at the plate with two singles, two runs scored, an RBI and two walks, Tristan Redinger had a hit and an RBI, Kadin Homer had a hit and two RBIs and Tim Birch collected a hit as well. Starter Greg Minnick went 5 1/3 innings pitched scattering four hits, allowing four earned runs to go with seven strikeouts. 

Up Next
Indiana will face off against Fleetwood (District 3-#3) in the PIAA 4A Semifinal match up on Monday, June 10. The location and time are yet to be determined. 

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