Pa. Boys: Thurs. Pa. boys: Sac fly puts Holy Ghost in district final

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday, Nick Payesko hit a sacrifice fly to center field to lift Holy Ghost Prep over visiting Phoenixville, 3-2, in the District 1 Class AAA baseball semifinals.

Jon Naylor, who started the rally with a walk, scored from third base. Jack Kalmes and Alec Dollard had singles to lead off the inning.

Phoenixville tied the game in the top of the inning with an infield hit. The Phantoms' attempt to take the lead was thwarted when catcher Jack Seibert recovered a wild pitch and threw out the runner at home plate.

In the other semifinal, Pat Driscoll slapped an RBI double in the fifth to help Upper Moreland knock off Pottstown, 6-1, at Spring-Ford. The junior catcher went 1 for 2, walked once, and scored a run.

Charlie Hooker went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, and Matt Kohn had two hits, an RBI, and one run scored. Eddie Decker, the winning pitcher, struck out two and walked none in seven innings.

Upper Moreland will face Holy Ghost in the final at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Plymouth Whitemarsh.

Independent Schools. Pat Valentine secured his complete-game victory with a game-winning solo homer in the bottom of the sixth as Haverford School nipped visiting Hill School, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.

Valentine pitched seven innings, struck out five, and allowed four hits. Chris Sukonik hit a sacrifice fly in the second.

Also in the quarterfinals, Chris Butera struck out five, walked one, and allowed just four hits in seven innings to guide host Malvern Prep past Perkiomen School, 2-0.

The sophomore righthander was able to endure a 90-minute rain delay in the fourth inning.

Senior outfielder Brian Giacchino went 2 for 3 with a double.

Brendan Manderack recorded 13 saves and Peter Donato totaled three goals and an assist to help Radnor down Conestoga, 8-7, in the District 1 third-place game.

Matt Schleicher scored a pair of goals, and Brendan Bassett and Zach Schleicher had one assist each for the Red Raiders. Pierre Atkinson led Conestoga with three goals, and Robbie Zonino turned away four shots.

In another district matchup, Ethan Joseph scored five goals and Greg Merrill added four to help Great Valley top Downingtown East, 14-10, for fifth place. Dillon Buettner added four assists, and Noah Joseph had two.

District 12. Travis Miller scored three times, and La Salle eased to the title with an 18-4 win over Northeast at Germantown.