Hollidaysburg’s Ty McGough celebrates with the team after scoring a run on Monday. Photo for the Mirror by Chuck Meyers

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Prior to the 2024 season, the Hollidaysburg Area High School baseball program had never won a first-round PIAA state playoff game.

They achieved that and much more that season, advancing all the way to the PIAA Class 5A state championship game before losing a tough 2-1 decision to Governor Mifflin at Penn State University’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Fast forward two years later, and Hollidaysburg hopes to go on a similar postseason roll. The Golden Tigers opened state tournament play Monday afternoon with a 10-0, five-inning first-round mercy-rule victory over WPIAL runner-up South Fayette at the Hollidaysburg Area High School baseball field, earning a quarterfinal-round matchup Thursday against District 3 champion Lampeter-Strasburg at a time and site to be determined.

Lampeter-Strasburg punched its ticket into the quarterfinals with a 4-0 first-round victory over Thomas Jefferson of the WPIAL Monday.

“It’s been quite the run for us over the last couple years,” said Hollidaysburg coach Jon Szynal, whose Tigers raised their record this season to 20-2 on the strength of another outstanding pitching performance from junior righty Vince Boland and balanced batting production throughout their lineup.

“The kids have put in the time and effort, they’ve been working hard, and that’s been reaping rewards,” Szynal said.

Boland, who was a big factor in Hollidaysburg’s run to the state championship game during his freshman season two years ago, tossed another gem Monday, allowing only one hit in a route-going, shutout performance in which he struck out nine batters, walked just one, and drew praise from both coaches.

“Their pitcher was very good again today, and I’m not surprised, because he’s been good all season,” South Fayette coach Mark “Bubba” Snider said of Boland. “As a team, we came out flat today, and that’s on me as the head coach.

“It’s my responsibility to have this team prepared,” Snider said. “But I am incredibly proud of these players. We were picked to finish last in our section this year and we wound up playing in the WPIAL championship game (a loss to Upper St. Clair) and making it to the state tournament.”

Boland didn’t need much run support from the Golden Tigers Monday, but he got it anyhow. Hollidaysburg pounded out 10 hits, with junior shortstop Mason Mierley collecting three, including a two-run single in Hollidaysburg’s five-run, game-ending rally in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Mierley also had an RBI single in the fourth inning, when Hollidaysburg built a 5-0 lead, and a double in the third inning, when the Golden Tigers punched across the first three runs of the game on sophomore second baseman Ty McGough’s two-run book rule double that took one hop over the left field fence, and the first of two RBI singles by senior first baseman Cole Hartman in the game.

“Vince Boland is such a competitor and he’s been so consistent for us,” Szynal said. “He’s able to put the ball where he wants it, and throw all of his pitches for strikes.

“And I don’t think our batting lineup made many easy outs today,” Szynal said. “We did some nice things with the bat up and down the lineup. Our kids all know their roles on the team, and they all handle their roles well.”

Hollidaysburg scored three runs on four hits in the third inning, added two runs on one hit in the fourth inning, and clinched the victory with five runs on five hits in the fifth inning, with Hartman’s second RBI single knocking in Mierley from second base with Hollidaysburg’s game-ending tenth run.

“We kept the pressure on them with our offense, and the second time through the lineup today, we made things happen,” said Syznal, who expressed his appreciation for Monday’s nice fan turnout in what is Hollidaysburg’s final home game this season. “And, along with the offense, when Vince Boland is doing what he does, throwing strikes and keeping people off base, that’s a pretty good recipe.”

SOUTH FAYETTE (0): Sheen 2b 200, Speer 3b 200, Stover ss 300, Borgesi 1b 200, Scappe 2b 000, Boston dh 100, Gioia rf 200, Mizia p-lf 201, Cloherty cf 200, Scheel lf 100, Kreuer p 100. Totals – 18-0-1.

HOLLIDAYSBURG (10): Banks rf 221, Mierley ss 323, McGough 2b 211, Hartman 1b 302, Boland p 000, Rossman dh 301, Phillips cf 311, Miller 3b 210, Layton cf 210, Hatch c 201, Rabel cr 020. Totals – 22-10-10.

SCORE BY INNINGS

South Fayette 000 00x x — 0 1 1

Hollidaysburg 003 25x x –10 10 1

E–Mizia, Miller. 2B–Banks, Mierley, McGough. RBI–Mierley 3, McGough 2, Hartman 2, Banks, Hatch. SB–Banks. LOB–Hollidaysburg 7, South Fayette 3. HBP–McGough (by Mizia). DP–South Fayette turned one.

PITCHING

South Fayette: Mizia (L) 3 2/3IP, 1H, 5R, 5ER, 5BB, 3SO, 80 pitches; Kreuer 1+IP, 5H, 5R, 5ER, 2BB, 0SO, 44 pitches.

Hollidaysburg: Boland (W) 5IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 9SO, 61 pitches.

Records: South Fayette (14-10); Hollidaysburg (20-2).

Time of game: 1:25.