Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

MOOSIC — Coach Chris Ritsick wasn’t about to hold the runner at third. Which is good, because Robb McClay had no intention of stopping.

Every baserunner had been at a premium in Monday’s District 2 Class 3A championship. So when Holy Redeemer’s Sean Wills lifted a shallow single with the score tied in the seventh, the Royals were determined to score from second.

As McClay rounded third and Lakeland’s relay came into the infield, there was one thought going through his mind.

“Run a lot faster,” McClay laughed.

“With two outs, he was going,” Ritsick said. “You’ve gotta take your chances at that point.”

“With my adrenaline,” McClay said, “I just went home. It worked out.”

Did it ever. The throw to the plate came ahead of the runner — but off the mark — and McClay scored to complete a 3-2 Royals rally over unbeaten Lakeland to win the district crown. Redeemer senior Jordan Choman struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to finish off another terrific performance on the mound and capture the program’s second D2 title, adding to the gold medal from 2012.

“Going out in that seventh inning, I was so confident,” Choman said. “I had the world off my shoulders. I knew I had it. One run was enough. I was that confident. I just woke up feeling good. Straight from the start, I had a feeling.

“(We were facing) an undefeated team, but I knew there was something that was going to happen today that was going to be magical.”

It happened in the final frame.

With five seniors and four juniors in the lineup for the third-seeded Royals, there was no panic when No. 1 Lakeland pulled ahead 2-0 in the fifth. It would be McClay who delivered in the seventh with a two-run double over the left fielder’s head before scoring that winning run.

Up next for Redeemer is the District 11 champion on June 5 in the first round of the PIAA tournament at a D2 site to be determined. D11 has a semifinal scheduled for Tuesday and the title game set for Wednesday.

The season is not over the Chiefs, however, as the district now gets two 3A bids to the states under the new alignment. They will face the winner of Wednesday’s District 4 championship between Central Columbia and Loyalsock.

If they keep getting pitching performances like these, the Royals and Chiefs could even meet again in the state semifinals.

Both Choman and Lakeland lefty Brad Richards had thrown no-hitters in the district quarterfinals. On Monday, they were both sharp, but it was Choman’s efficiency that kept him the game the whole way while Richards exited in the sixth inning.

Choman finished with a three-hitter, allowing just one earned run and two walks while striking out eight.

“What a great performance,” Ritsick said. “He stepped it up today. He was around the plate, was hitting his spots all day. Mixing it up when he had to. The experience showed today.”

Choman didn’t allow a hit in a five-inning win over Lake-Lehman a week earlier. Richards went seven innings of no-hit ball against Honesdale in the same round. And the two didn’t disappoint on Monday, as the only hit for either side through four innings was a first-inning single by Tim Cavanaugh.

Trouble brewed in the bottom of the fifth, however, as the first two Chiefs reached on a walk and a hit batter. When Mike Romano laid down a pinpoint bunt, the throw to first missed the mark and Lakeland took a 1-0 lead before getting its first hit.

That came two batters later as another excellent bunt by Christian Cicio was good for a hit and an RBI — which turned into a double with no one covering second.

But Redeemer stopped the bleeding there as Tucker Ell snagged a line drive at short and doubled off a runner at third to keep it a 2-0 game.

It paid off as the Chiefs went to the bullpen in the next inning after Wills hit a leadoff double. Reliever Dom Verrastro left him stranded at second, but the Royals were able to set up their big seventh with Richards done for the day.

“Richards pitched a nice game — he was really crafty,” Ritsick said. “Verrastro was more of a hard thrower, and we caught up to it.”

Cade Flanley drew a walk with a full count to lead off the frame. Choman helped his cause with a single. The Royals couldn’t get down a bunt of their own and the runners stayed at first and second with one out.

Up came McClay. He didn’t step into the box looking for extra bases, but he sent a 1-1 pitch deep to left to score Flanley and courtesy runner Dean Ambosie.

“I wasn’t really worried about getting the big hit,” McClay said. “But it comes and goes.”

After a foul out, Wills came up and delivered his second hit of the game to bring home the winning run.

“They never hung their heads all game,” Ritsick said. “They were plugging away. We knew it was going to be a close game from the start. We knew we were going to see some good pitching today, and we knew it was going to be a tight, one-run game one way or the other.

“That’s exactly how it ended up.”

District 2 Class 3A championship

Holy Redeemer 3, Lakeland 2

Holy Redeemer`AB`R`H`BI

Ell ss`3`0`0`0

Cavanaugh 2b`3`0`1`0

Borum c`3`0`0`0

Flanley 3b`2`1`0`0

Choman p`2`1`1`0

Molitoris rf`3`0`0`0

McClay cf`3`1`1`2

Bozentka 1b`3`0`0`0

Wills lf`3`0`2`1

Totals`25`3`5`3

Lakeland`AB`R`H`BI

Piraino 2b-ss`3`0`0`0

Hayes 1b`3`0`0`0

Retzbach c`2`0`1`0

Verrastro ss-p`3`0`0`0

Novitsky lf`2`1`1`0

Walsh pr`0`0`0`0

Art 3b`0`0`0`0

Romano cf`1`0`0`0

Richards p`0`0`0`0

Lavelle dh-2b`1`0`0`0

Mizok ph`1`0`0`0

Cicio rf`2`0`1`1

Totals`20`2`3`1

Redeemer`000`000`3`—`3

Lakeland`000`020`0`—`2

2B — Wills, McClay, Cicio

Redeemer`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Choman (W)`7.0`3`2`1`2`8

Lakeland`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Richards`5+`2`0`0`2`4

Verrastro`2.0`3`3`3`1`1

Holy Redeemer’s Tim Cavanaugh, left, takes off from first base on a pitch by Lakeland’s Brad Richards in the District 2 Class 3A championship on Monday game at PNC Field. Holy Redeemer’s Dean Ambosie takes a lead behind Lakeland first baseman Matt Hayes in Monday’s District 2 Class 3A title game.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL053017D2BB-Redeemer-LakelandBB_2CMYK-1.jpg.optimal.jpgHoly Redeemer’s Tim Cavanaugh, left, takes off from first base on a pitch by Lakeland’s Brad Richards in the District 2 Class 3A championship on Monday game at PNC Field. Holy Redeemer’s Dean Ambosie takes a lead behind Lakeland first baseman Matt Hayes in Monday’s District 2 Class 3A title game.

The Holy Redeemer Royals storm PNC Field after a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Lakeland to win the District 2 Class 3A championship on Monday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL053017D2BB-Redeemer-LakelandBB_6-1.jpg.optimal.jpgThe Holy Redeemer Royals storm PNC Field after a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Lakeland to win the District 2 Class 3A championship on Monday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Holy Redeemer’s Tim Cavanaugh, left, takes off from first base on a pitch by Lakeland’s Brad Richards in the District 2 Class 3A championship on Monday game at PNC Field. Holy Redeemer’s Dean Ambosie takes a lead behind Lakeland first baseman Matt Hayes in Monday’s District 2 Class 3A title game.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL053017D2BB-Redeemer-LakelandBB_2-1.jpg.optimal.jpgHoly Redeemer’s Tim Cavanaugh, left, takes off from first base on a pitch by Lakeland’s Brad Richards in the District 2 Class 3A championship on Monday game at PNC Field. Holy Redeemer’s Dean Ambosie takes a lead behind Lakeland first baseman Matt Hayes in Monday’s District 2 Class 3A title game. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Holy Redeemer’s Dean Ambosie, left, takes a lead on Lakeland first baseman Matt Hayes in the District 2 Class 3A baseball championship game at PNC Field in Moosic on Monday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL053017D2BB-Redeemer-LakelandBB_3-1.jpg.optimal.jpgHoly Redeemer’s Dean Ambosie, left, takes a lead on Lakeland first baseman Matt Hayes in the District 2 Class 3A baseball championship game at PNC Field in Moosic on Monday. Bill Tarutis | For Times LeaderBill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Holy Redeemer’s Dean Ambosie, right, scores the game-tying run in the top of the seventh inning as he and Cade Flanley, waiting at the plate, came home on Robb McClay’s double.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL053017D2BB-Redeemer-LakelandBB_4-1.jpg.optimal.jpgHoly Redeemer’s Dean Ambosie, right, scores the game-tying run in the top of the seventh inning as he and Cade Flanley, waiting at the plate, came home on Robb McClay’s double. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Holy Redeemer starter Jordan Choman delivers a pitch to Lakeland’s Adam Retzbach in the District 2 Class 3A baseball championship game at PNC Field in Moosic on Monday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL053017D2BB-Redeemer-LakelandBB_1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgHoly Redeemer starter Jordan Choman delivers a pitch to Lakeland’s Adam Retzbach in the District 2 Class 3A baseball championship game at PNC Field in Moosic on Monday. Bill Tarutis | For Times LeaderBill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Holy Redeemer’s Robb McClay heads for the plate to score the game-winning run as Lakeland catcher Adam Retzbach waits for the throw in Monday’s District 2 Class 3A championship game at PNC Field.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL053017D2BB-Redeemer-LakelandBB_5-1.jpg.optimal.jpgHoly Redeemer’s Robb McClay heads for the plate to score the game-winning run as Lakeland catcher Adam Retzbach waits for the throw in Monday’s District 2 Class 3A championship game at PNC Field. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Holy Redeemer’s Tucker Ell holds up the District 2 Class 3A championship plaque with Jordan Choman, left, and Tim Cavanaugh after the Royals defeated Lakeland 3-2 at PNC Field on Monday.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL053017D2BB-Redeemer-LakelandBB_7-1.jpg.optimal.jpg

Holy Redeemer’s Tucker Ell holds up the District 2 Class 3A championship plaque with Jordan Choman, left, and Tim Cavanaugh after the Royals defeated Lakeland 3-2 at PNC Field on Monday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By Derek Levarse

[email protected]

VIDEO

To see video of the Holy Redeemer baseball team celebrate winning the Class 3A title, visit the online version of this story at timesleader.com

Reach Derek Levarse at 570-991-6396 or on Twitter @TLdlevarse

VideoID: KhqxUlutH5k
VideoType: YOUTUBE
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhqxUlutH5k
Video Embed String:
Video Caption:
Video Credit: Derek Levarse | Times Leader
Video Position:

(use the “for files…” link above to associate attached files with this source)