Mirror file photo Devon Boyles will start for Central on the mound today against Fairview.

Central is enjoying what could turn out to be its best high school baseball season in program history, which is saying a lot considering the Scarlet Dragons’ success which includes a PIAA Class 3A championship in 2017.

Its opponent today has already accomplished more than any other Fairview baseball team.

The Tigers rallied past WPIAL third-place finisher Hopewell for a 3-2 win in Monday’s PIAA first round — the first state playoff victory in school history.

“The kids are excited, the school is excited and the community is excited,” Fairview coach Joe Spinelli said. “We’re trying to make history. That was our fifth time in the state tournament in baseball, and I guess they have been having state tournaments for about 45 years. That’s only our fifth time, and we broke through and got a win finally. We’re thrilled with that.”

Fairview is in the state playoffs for the third time in the last seven years and lost close first-round games in 2016 and 2017.

“I’m sure they are feeling really good about themselves right now,” Central coach A.J. Hoenstine said. “They won the District 10 championship by beating a good Franklin team up there, and they are probably riding high right now. We have to come out ready to play.”

Fairview is led by pitchers Sean Houston (3-0, 1.91 ERA), Logan Fiolek (9-1, 2.35 ERA) and Colin Bolla (4-1, 2.19 ERA). Houston pitched 4ª innings and threw 76 pitches against Hopewell before Bolla came on and picked up the win in relief. That means all three pitchers will be available for today’s PIAA 3A quarterfinal game against Central at Seneca Valley High School at noon. The winner will play the winner of today’s game between District 9 champion Punxsutawney and District 10 runner-up Franklin in the PIAA semifinals Monday.

“I think pitching is their strong suit,” Hoenstine said. “They have three really good arms, and they have put up some impressive numbers this year. We’re going to have to find a way to score some runs and pitch and play defense like we have been.”

Spinelli knows his pitchers will be facing a tough challenge.

“They are the No. 1 team in the state in 3A, so that’s what we’ve got in front of us,” Spinelli said. “They really hit the ball, run the bases and pitch pretty good as well. They play good defense. They are a super team. We have our work cut out for us, but we have played several good teams this year that hit pretty well, and we have held up. We’re hoping we can do that (today).”

Central’s top starting pitcher, Jonah Snowberger, left his first-round start with elbow soreness.

“Devon Boyles will start, and he will give us what he can and we’ll go from there,” Hoenstine said. “We’re confident in some other guys. I’m sure Tyler Helsel will get some work, and he’s been really good for us this year. We’ll throw whoever we need to so that we get to the next step and worry about the next game when it comes.”

Fairview (17-3) is hoping the momentum from its first-round win carries over to today. Aiden Rubilotta, who hit a two-run double to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 win for the Tigers in the first round, has a team-high 23 RBIs. Sophomore Aari Fox is batting a team-high .379.

“I sure hope so, because we’re going to need that momentum,” Spinelli said. “This Central team is really good. We’re looking at the stats like, ‘holy smokes, those guys can hit.'”

Spinelli said he’s hoping his pitchers stay in the strike zone against the 25-0 Scarlet Dragons.

“You have to pitch and play good defense,” Spinelli said. “Part of pitching is not walking guys. You can’t walk guys against that lineup. They have too many hitters. That’s going to be the key for us. We have been OK scoring runs, but they are a scoring machine those guys, so we have to hold them down with pitching and defense.”

Central has spent the last two days trying to adjust to today’s early start time.

“It’s different, but we practiced at noon (Tuesday), and we’ll practice at noon (Wednesday),” Hoenstine said. “A lot of these guys have played travel baseball all summer long. They are used to playing early-morning games. The moms are making us breakfast, and we’ll get up have a good trip up there and be ready to go.”