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Gorsuch, Pirates squeak past Owls

Photo for the Mirror by Jaclyn Yingling Williamsburg’s Rowan Gorsuch throws from his knees to get the final out next to catcher Luke Uplinger on Thursday.

WESTOVER — Williamsburg got a solid pitching performance from Rowan Gorsuch in the Blue Pirates’ 4-3 victory over Harmony in the District 6 Class 1A baseball quarterfinals on Thursday.

The Owls committed four errors that resulted in four unearned runs to help lead the Pirates to victory.

Gorsuch threw all seven innings, allowing just five hits and three unearned runs.

“Rowan pitched a gem,” Williamsburg coach Bob McCall said. “He’s been one of my go-to pitchers. The Rowan Gorsuch and Luke Uplinger combo we have pitching and catching has worked for us all year, and they are both sophomores.

“Rowan’s pitching was the biggest key, plus we had some timely hitting and good base-running.”

Williamsburg scored two of its runs quickly in the first inning.

Luke Uplinger reached on an error on a ball hit to third. Lambert Palmer then reached on an error on a throw to first, then stole second, putting both runners in scoring position. Gorsuch hit a grounder back to the pitcher, who went to first for the out, allowing Uplinger to score.

Gorsuch came home on an RBI single from Dylan Hartman to make it 2-0.

Gorsuch then headed out to the mound and sat the Owls down in order, needing just six pitches to get out of the first inning.

The Pirates opened the top of the second with a triple by Alex Brantner. But Maseto struck out the next three batters to get out of the jam.

Harmony mirrored that in the bottom of the second, as Lucas Tarnow singled, moved to second on a stolen base, then went to third on an error.

Gorsuch struck out the next three batters he faced, leaving Tarnow stranded at third.

Another error led to another Pirate run in the top of the third inning.

Palmer reached on another error in the infield. He then went to third when Maseto tried to pick him off second and the ball went into the outfield.

Gorsuch hit a grounder to second, allowing Palmer to score, making it 3-0.

Harmony got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to two errors made by Williamsburg.

Maseto reached on the first error, then stole second base. He came home on a single by Tarnow, who got thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.

Zach Hutton walked, moved to second on a single before coming home on another error with two outs.

That cut the Pirates’ lead to 3-2, but it didn’t stay that way for long.

After two quick outs in the top of the fifth, Palmer doubled into left field. He came home on an error, which should have been the final out of the inning, increasing the lead to 4-2.

Harmony scored its final run in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Fry doubled into deep center. He came home on an error on a ball hit by Jack Bracken.

With Maseto at the plate and Gorsuch at 95 pitches, the Pirates elected to intentionally walk the lefty. Tarnow grounded out to the pitcher to set the final at 4-3.

Harmony finished the season at 9-6.

Williamsburg improved to 6-11. The Pirates play Saint Joseph’s Academy in the D6 A semis on Tuesday in Boalsburg.

“I feel good about playing Saint Joe’s,” McCall said. “We played them down there in a doubleheader (earlier this season) and lost (4-3 and 6-0), but we just had some costly errors.”

WILLIAMSBURG (4): Uplinger c 310, Palmer ss 431, Gorsuch p 300, Shawver 2b 300, Hartman 1b 301, McGregor cf 301, Brantner dh 301, Wagner 3b 000, C. Hughes rf 300, G. Hughes lf 300. Totals — 28-4-4.

HARMONY (3): Fry c 412, Bracken ss-p 400, Maseto p-ss 210, Tarnow cf 402, Hutton 1b 210, Sward 3b 301, Bailey 2b 300, Cornelius lf 300, Friend rf 300. Totals — 28-3-5.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Williamsburg 201 010 0–4 4 4

Harmony 000 200 1–3 5 4

E–Gorsuch, Shawver, Palmer 2. Bracken 2, Maseto, Bailey. LOB–Williamsburg 4, Harmony 7. 2B–Palmer, McGregor. Fry. 3B–Brantner. RBI–Gorsuch 2, Hartman, Tarnow. IBB–Maseto. SB–Palmer, Gorsuch. Fry, Maseto, Tarnow. CS–McGregor (by Fry).

PITCHING

Gorsuch, W: 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 SO.

Maseto, H: 6 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO.

Bracken, H: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO.

WP–Gorsuch. LP–Maseto (4-2).

Records: Williamsburg (6-11); Harmony (9-6).

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