Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Hollidaysburg starter Carson Kensinger is jacked after retiring the side with a strikeout.

The big game

Who: Hollidaysburg vs. Governor Mifflin

When: Friday, 4:30 p.m.

Where: Penn State University

Streaming service: PCN Select

By Michael Boytim

mboytim@altoonamirror.com

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Opportunities at playing in a state championship game are few and far between.

For the Kensinger family, 40 years to be exact.

When Hollidaysburg senior star Carson Kensinger steps into the batter’s box, or possibly onto the mound, in Friday’s PIAA Class 5A baseball championship game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, he will follow in the footsteps of his father, Ed, who played third base for Central in the 3A state final in 1984.

Ed Kensinger’s Scarlet Dragon team fell that day, 3-1, to Chambersburg in a game played at Shippensburg. Carson is hoping Friday’s game plays out differently.

“He always brought it up to me as a little kid,” Carson Kensinger said. “He told me about the feeling of playing in a state championship game and experiencing that with his teammates and how it’s something he still remembers to this day. It meant a lot to him, and now I get to recreate what he did, and hopefully I can come out with the win this time.”

Carson Kensinger has played a major role in helping the Golden Tigers reach their first PIAA baseball championship game.

He’s 10-0 with a 1.04 ERA and has wins against Central Mountain, Obama Academy, Franklin Regional and Monsignor Bonner in the postseason, and he leads Hollidaysburg with seven home runs, including two in the playoffs.

“It’s been awesome to watch, because I know how hard he’s worked,” Ed Kensinger said. “I know how much it means to him. Just to watch him grow as a player and a person has been a lot of fun.”

Kensinger suffered a foot injury against Monsignor Bonner in the PIAA semifinals on Monday when he was hit by a pitch, and he was in a walking boot at Wednesday’s practice. But don’t expect it to keep him out of the lineup Friday against District 3 runner-up Governor Mifflin in the state final.

“I’m 100 percent playing on Friday,” Carson Kensinger said. “It’s really just a precaution for the foot. I’m not going to say I’m 100 percent, because I’m not, but I’ll be ready for Friday no matter what.”

Kensinger pitched through the pain on Monday and got through 6ª innings before leaving when his pitch count reached the PIAA playoff limit of 105. With three full days of rest before Friday’s game, he’s eligible to pitch again for the Tigers.

“I’m still getting my body ready to play on Friday,” Carson Kensinger said. “Whether that’s to hit, pitch or play wherever they need me. I’ll make sure my foot is ready and that my arm is ready to go on the mound.”

Ed Kensinger, a department supervisor at Lowe’s, will be there, as he has been for every playoff game.

“There’s times where I think he’s more excited about it than I am,” Carson Kensinger said. “I try and stay level-headed, because we still have one game to play. It’s the biggest game of our lives, and I’m not trying to get too up about it until Friday. Talking to him about it, it’s awesome. He brings up stories about him playing at Central, and it’s cool to match stories after 40 years.”

In the PIAA playoffs, Hollidaysburg has won three straight nail biters, 4-2 against Franklin Regional, 3-2 against Penn-Trafford and 3-1 against Monsignor Bonner.

Central’s run 40 years ago was also filled with close games.

“I think we barely beat Punxsutawney, and then in the semifinals we played Allderdice, which was supposed to be a juggernaut,” Ed Kensinger said. “They had a big lefty that was pretty heralded. They got up on us 3-0, but we kept chipping away and ended up winning by a run I think.”

Beating Central Mountain in the District 6 Class 5A championship started Hollidaysburg’s playoff run, and that win is something Ed Kensinger said Carson had been chasing since a disappointing appearance against the Wildcats as a freshman.

“His freshman year, he got in to pitch against them, and we were already down a little bit,” Ed Kensinger said. “It didn’t go well, and he’s been looking to redeem himself from that game for a little bit by now. That game was very important to him.”

When Carson was a young child, his father didn’t exactly imagine a state championship run was in his son’s future.

“I grew up playing baseball. It’s the first sport I ever attempted to play,” Carson Kensinger said. “We were in the front yard, and he had me hitting right-handed before he knew I was left-handed. I couldn’t touch a baseball, so he thought I was no baseball player. I’m the only lefty in the family, so when we switched it up, he realized we had something and another Kensinger in the baseball pipeline.”

Now Carson is trying to one-up his dad with a championship.

“He had told me that a couple games ago,” Hollidaysburg coach Jon Szynal said. “It’s really cool. I’m excited for him and his family. The opportunity his dad had and that Carson has now is really special.”

Kensinger’s catcher, Cayden Gibbons — who has had the go-ahead RBI in each one of Hollidaysburg’s PIAA playoff wins — said there have been two keys to his pitcher’s success.

“His confidence is one thing,” Gibbons said. “And he has been able to be dominant with his fastball.”

Kensinger, like his father, also has a special bond with his senior teammates.

“This is a very special senior class,” Carson Kensinger said. “I think everybody in Hollidaysburg is behind us. We have been playing together for more than 10 years, since we were little kids. To be able to have this chance, means a lot. I remember Little League tournaments, fall tournaments — we have been building up to this our whole lives. All the memories we have made together will not be forgotten.”

Szynal wouldn’t commit to Kensinger pitching Friday until he sees how his foot progresses throughout the week, but if he’s on the mound against Governor Mifflin, his father expects him to come through.

“Carson has a lot of poise and confidence and doesn’t get rattled too easily,” Ed Kensinger said. “He gets into some pickles, but he has a way of getting out of them. It would mean so much (to see him win), because I know how much it means to him.”