Dragons Advance to the PIAA Class 3A Championships

The Central Dragons got one step closer to a State Championship on Monday as they defeated the Punxsutawney Chucks 6-5 in a game that was filled with offensive firepower and back-and-forth action.

In the bottom of the first, it was time for the Dragons to go to work. Paxton Kling roped a pitch into left field, rounded first and slid into second for a leadoff double. Punxy's Jake Sikora then plunked Jeff Hoenstine two quick pitches and two on for the Dragons. The Dragons then executed a double steal. Hoenstine was caught at second, giving Punxsutawney its first out of the inning. But the double steal worked as planned as Kling got to third. Devon Boyles finished the job with a ground-out that was able to score Kling from third. The Dragons took the lead 1-0 in the opening frame.

The second inning was quiet for both teams as neither team plated runs.

Dicey for Dragons

The top of the third was dicey for the Dragons. Tyler Helsel hit the first batter he faced, then walked the second batter. After a brief mound visit, Helsel walked the third batter, giving three free passes to load the bases for Punxsutawney. Carter Savage, who struck out in the first, redeemed himself as he took an 0-1 pitch and skied it to center field. Kling was there, caught the ball and squeezed his glove, recording the first out of the inning. But the hit was deep enough to bring in the tying runner. But that was all the Chucks would do in that inning.

That is where both teams stood before a pivotal fifth inning that saw both teams put up multiple runs. Up through the fourth, the teams had traded offensive scares and had both pitchers struggling to find any sort of rhythm.

Getting it started

After the leadoff batter got aboard, Josh Tyger hit an RBI single, giving the Chucks a 2-1 lead. The next batter was Ashton Stonbraker, who sent an absolute missile to deep left field. Stonbraker thought he got all of it, and that caused him to run slowly out of the box. But he turned on the jets once he saw the ball land inside the park. A hit that could've been disastrous for Central only produced an RBI double, giving the Chucks a 3-1 lead.

In the Dragons' half of the fifth, they showed what championship teams are made of. Parker Gregg and Kling both reached base after getting hit by pitches. With two on and two out, the Dragons had their best chance to break through and tie the game. Punxsutawney Coach Mike Dickey came out of the dugout and made the walk to the mound to meet with his pitcher. The rest of the Punxsutawney infield converged on the mound. Dickey started to pat the back of his starting pitcher and it looked as if Sikora's day was over. But as the mound visit ended, Sikora inexplicably remained as the pitcher. Just needing one out, Coach Dickey and Sikora must have been confident that he would be able to get that final out.

Boyles at bat

That's when Devon Boyles walked up to the plate. Boyles took his practice swings and stepped in. Sikora got the signs and pitched, missing the location. Boyles made no mistake and swung hard, launching the ball to right center. All the centerfielder could do was turn around and watch as the ball soared over the fence.

The three-run home run gave the Dragons a 4-3 lead. Pandemonium ensued as all the Central players mobbed Boyles at home plate. That hit and a walk ended Sikora's day.

The Chucks chose Isaac London to work the final innings, which did very little to limit the damage, as Central kept its foot on the gas.

Griffin Snowberger worked a walk and the next batter notched an RBI single, but Snowberger was able to score on a throwing error from Stonbraker, giving the Dragons a 6-3 lead heading into the 6th inning.

Boyles came in to work the final innings for the Dragons in relief of Helsel. Zeke Bennett struck out after working the count full on Boyles.

Boyles then walked the next batter he faced, and got Peyton Hetrick to ground to the second baseman, a tailor-made double-play ball, but the Dragons were only able to get the leadoff man.

Sikora then hit a ball into shallow left that found the grass, allowing the runner at first to move up. With two on and two out, Carter Savage drew a walk, loading the bases. It looked as if Central was going to blow the lead that they had just earned. And the guy who was responsible for that lead, Boyles, was the pitcher who was responsible for all the runners on base and would get charged with all the runs if they scored.

Nerves started to take over for Boyles as Tyger stepped into the box with two outs and the bases full of Chucks. Boyles kicked and dealt and threw one in the dirt that got past the catcher and rolled all the way to the backstop.

The runner at third broke for the plate and got in standing up without a throw, narrowing Central's lead to two.

Tyger then stepped out of the box and took his practice swings. He dug in, waiting for a pitch to hit that wouldn't come. Boyles threw another wild pitch to Tyger, which allowed Punxsutawney to plate yet another run, decreasing the Dragons' lead to the slimmest of margins at 6-5. Tyger eventually popped out to center field, ending the Chucks' threat.

The Dragons didn't muster anything in their half of the sixth and the Chucks failed to do anything in the seventh as Boyles had himself a 1-2-3 inning, giving the Dragons the win.

Central will face Lancaster Catholic in the championship game on Friday, June 17, at State College at 1:30 p.m.