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WESTOVER -- Harmony advanced to the school's first-ever District 6 title game in baseball with a 2-1 victory over Portage on Friday afternoon at Ralph Butterworth Memorial Field in the Class 1A semifinals.
"We are used to tight games," Harmony coach Harvey Westover said. "The last four or five have all been close. These kids do not quit. They make plays when they have to make plays.
"We might make a mistake here and there, but we cover our mistakes."
The game was a pitchers' duel for the first five innings, as the Owls' ace, Anthony Maseto, and Portage fireballer Jake McCoy rang up batter after batter.
"We struck out 10 times, and they struck out 14," Portage coach Larry McCabe said. "It was a pitchers' game. They got the key plays."
Harmony had chances in both the first and third innings with runners in scoring position, but a pickoff and a timely strikeout ended any threat.
Portage also had chances to go ahead, putting runners on in the first, third and fourth innings.
The Mustangs' best chance came in the third, but Maseto picked off the runner he hit, then got a big grounder to third, which was scooped up by JJ Sward for the out.
Portage put the first two batters on in the top of the sixth, as Luke Scarton reached on an error.
A single by Isaac Jubina brought Billy Dombrowlsky to the plate. He attempted to bunt the runners over, but popped up.
Maseto made a diving attempt, just missing it, but Fry was able to get to it and throw to third for an out.
The Owls got out of it with a pop-up and a grounder to second to keep the game scoreless.
"These kids are all basketball players," Westover said. "We started late and we started 1-2. Pressure does not bother them. That's why they are where they are at.
"They are great athletes, I won't take that away from them. But they don't let pressure get to them either."
With their 9-1-2 batters up, Harmony was in a good spot.
McCoy struck out the first batter on three pitches, but Fry lined the first pitch he saw into center field for a single.
Maseto popped up a ball in the infield, which got lost in the sun, and he reached base.
Bracken smacked a single into left, and Westover waved Fry home, where he slid headfirst for the first run.
Bracken went to second on an error, bringing Tarnow to the plate.
He hit an 0-2 pitch into the outfield, allowing Bracken to easily scamper home for a 2-0 advantage.
McCoy got a fly-out to center to end the inning, giving the Owls a chance to end in the top of the seventh.
"I don't know what happened on the pop-up, if they just couldn't find it or what," McCabe said. "Hats off to their kid (Maseto). He's a competitor, and I think he competed as good as you can in that situation."
Maseto went back out to the mound having thrown 95 pitches. He allowed two singles while getting a ground-out for his 105th pitch.
Bracken came on in relief for the second straight playoff game, walking the first batter he saw.
A sacrifice fly from Scarton brought home Trae Kargo, cutting the lead to 2-1.
A Jubina single past Bracken loaded the bases with two outs.
But Bracken struck out the next batter, setting the final and emptying the Harmony dugout in celebration.
"I can't ask for anymore from Anthony and Jack," Westover said. "We got big hits from Luke and Jack.
"These kids are phenomenal. They didn't get to be 13-2 by luck. They are a good baseball team."
The Owls play Bishop Guilfoyle at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at Central Cambria High School for the Class 1A title.
Harmony is guaranteed its first trip to the PIAA Tournament as 1A gets both teams in the title game through.
Portage finished the season at 11-11.
Portage (1): Slanoc c 201, M. Kargo cf 301, Scarton ss 300, Jubina 3b 403, Dobrowlsky 1b 400, McCoy p 300, Irvin dh 300, Nesbella rf 000, T. Kargo 2b 210, Morgan ph 101, Lawrence lf 200. Totals -- 27-1-6-1.
Harmony (2): Fry c 313, Maseto p-ss 302, Bracken ss-p 311, Tarnow cf 301, Sward 3b 300, Hutton 1b 200, Pearce lf 200, Bailey 2b 200, Perruso rf 200. Totals -- 23-2-7-2.
Score by Innings
Portage 000 000 1--1 6 1
Harmony 000 002 x--2 7 2
E--Lawrence. Hutton, Perruso. LOB--Portage 7, Harmony 4. 2B--Fry, Tarnow. RBI--Scarton, Bracken, Tarnow. SF--Scarton. SB--Slanoc, McCoy. HBP--Lawrence (by Maseto). PO--Lawrence (by Maseto). Fry (by McCoy). WP--McCoy. Maseto.
Pitching
Portage: McCoy--6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 14 SO.
Harmony: Maseto--6 1/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO. Bracken--2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO.
WP--Maseto (5-1). LP--McCoy. S--Bracken (2).