In a tale of 2 wild pitches, Quaker Valley upends Avonworth in 3A quarterfinals

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 11:20 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Two pitches to the backstop with a runner at third base late in a scoreless baseball playoff game.

One turned into an out — a backbreaker for a potential big inning. The other plated the game’s only run.

Those key plays led to a Class 3A quarterfinals eyebrow-raiser as No. 7 Quaker Valley ended the season for No. 2 Avonworth, 1-0.

The outcome Tuesday evening at Burkett Field in Robinson Township also ended the one-year reign as district champion for the Antelopes.

“Kudos to Jeff (Bywalski) and his squad because they are outstanding,” second-year Quaker Valley coach Rich Garbee said about his opposing coach Tuesday. “We are trying to model ourselves after a couple of these squads that win sustainably over time.”

The 2024 Class 3A district champions had a chance to break a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Michael Libbon reached on an error and then advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw.

Libbon reached third on a perfect push bunt single by Patrick Bykowski to put Antelopes on the corners with nobody out.

With Declan Ehrin batting, Quaker Valley pitcher Ryan Finamore uncorked a pitch that bounced to the backstop.

As Libbon broke for the plate, Quakers catcher Bradley Semonik quickly retrieved the ball and got it to Finamore covering for a close play at the plate. Libbon was called out.

“Brad has been doing those things over the course of the season,” Garbee said of his catcher. “He has grown immensely over the season. He has become a rock back there. He got back to the ball like he’s supposed to, made a good throw and Ryan made a great tag. That was a huge, huge play.”

Finamore then struck out Ehrin looking and after intentionally walking Cooper Scharding, he retired Case Latore on a lineout to shortstop.

Those two runners left on were the final two of the night as the Antelopes left 11 men on base, seven in scoring position.

The Quakers took advantage of the emotional zero put up in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead in the seventh.

With one out, Todd Kagle lined a double to left-center field. It was only the second hit of the night for Quaker Valley off Avonworth starter, Carson Franc, who was relieved by Scharding.

Kagle advanced to third base on an infield single by Nolan Wagoner, putting Quakers at first and third with one out.

Following a strikeout of Jack Cindrich and with Kolton Johnson at the plate, a low pitch got past Antelopes catcher Mason Metz, who tried to duplicate what the Quakers battery did in the last half inning, but his throw got away from Scharding and Kagle was safe.

“He’s got some nagging injuries he been dealing with,” Garbee said of Kagle. “He came up with a double and got us in scoring position in that seventh inning. We were able to get that run home.”

Finamore finalized the victory in the bottom of the seventh. Following a leadoff walk to Metz, he struck out Jack Dolan and got Alex Rowe to bounce into a game-ending double play to shortstop.

Quakers starting pitcher Oscar Roig pitched four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Following a third of an inning pitched by Kagle, the left-handed Finamore pitched the final 2⅔ innings with no runs, two hits, three walks and three strikeouts.

“Oscar did a fantastic job. The poor guy is exhausted but very excited, Garbee said. “We had a pitching plan for those guys, so we moved some things around a little bit and threw a lot of off-speed, and we had a plan to bring Ryan in at the end to face the lefties, and we (could have) lived or died by it and we lived by it.”

Franc suffered the tough loss for the Antelopes, pitching 6⅓ innings, allowing one run on only two hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts.

The season ends for Avonworth at 18-4.

Quaker Valley improves to 14-6 and now will face Section 3-A foe Mohawk at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Seneca Valley.

The Quakers and Warriors split their regular season section series this spring.

“They hit the ball really well. They field the ball really well. They’re a good team,” Garbee said of Mohawk. “We look forward to playing them, and we’ll both compete really hard with the chance to go to the finals.”

Tags: Avonworth, Quaker Valley