Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Hollidaysburg’s Josh Banks (left) is greeted by Ty McGough after scoring a run in Thursday’s win over Lampeter-Strasburg.

When DuBois baseball coach Josh Johnson got his 2026 varsity schedule, he was surprised to see Hollidaysburg wasn’t on it.

“When they weren’t on our schedule this year, I said to our AD — ‘man, that stinks,’ because I knew it would be a good challenging game,” Johnson said. “Because football plays them every year, I thought they were a team we played every season. When they weren’t there, I was bummed out, because we love to play other big schools, especially ones that have junior varsity teams.”

Things have a way of working themselves out. The Beavers and the Golden Tigers have played their way into a meeting in the PIAA Class 5A semifinals Monday in Homer City at First Commonwealth Field with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.

However, Elk County Catholic and Eden Christian Academy will play in the first part of a doubleheader there at 3 p.m. in the 1A semifinals, and Hollidaysburg experienced a nearly two-hour delay as part of the second game of a doubleheader in the last round.

Once Monday’s game gets started, it might not last long.

The game figures to be a pitcher’s duel with DuBois senior Noah Farrell matching up against Hollidaysburg junior Vince Boland.

“It would appear that way,” Hollidaysburg coach Jon Szynal said. “You never know in baseball, but with both teams having a lot of good pitching, I would think it will be a low-scoring game. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing, try to sneak some runs in and see how we do.”

Hollidaysburg is somewhat familiar with Farrell, who is 7-0 with an 0.60 ERA this season and has 88 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings.

“We faced him two years ago at home,” Szynal said. “And we have been keeping tabs on him and following him. He’s a big hard-throwing right-hander with really good stuff. His numbers back that up. He’s a Division I pitcher. He’s a really good pitcher, and we’ll have our hands full with him.”

Farrell, who is 6-foot-4 inches and throws in the 90s, is committed to UConn.

As a sophomore, Farrell allowed three runs, two earned, and took the loss in a 3-1 Hollidaysburg regular-season victory. The Golden Tigers went to the PIAA championship game that season.

In the District 8-9 subregionals against Taylor Allderdice, he threw an 89-pitch no-hitter, struck out 14 and walked none in a 1-0 victory in which the Dragons’ only baserunner reached on an error.

“That was one of the most dominant performances by any pitcher on any team I have seen by anyone in my short coaching career,” Johnson said. “I was really glad he was on our team that day. He’s been a workhorse all year. He’s a good guy in the dugout. He’s vocal. You can go to him for a lot of different things, and I think the whole team is lifted up the days he starts.”

Farrell only allowed four earned runs all season, two against Class 4A semifinalist and WPIAL champion Indiana, one against Avonworth, who entered the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs as the top seed and one against Class 6A State College.

Boland, who will likely start for Hollidaysburg, has nearly matched Farrell. He’s 9-0 with an 0.75 ERA and has 87 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings pitched.

“This time of the year, no matter who is out there, you have to be ready,” Johnson said. “All the kids, if you are dedicated to baseball, this deep into the season, you’re going to go out there and be the best version of yourself you can be and give your team the best chance to win. Some of my guys may know (Boland) from travel ball or showcases, but we just have to be ready to compete on every pitch.”

Others may know him from last season.

Boland, who pitched six innings, and Cole Hartman combined to hold DuBois to one run on five hits last season in a 4-1 regular-season win.

Boland also pitched as a freshman for Hollidaysburg when the Golden Tigers made it to the PIAA championship and recorded the final out in the PIAA semifinal game.

“We talked about it at practice the other day,” Szynal said. “Getting there two years ago and experiencing how this all works and how much fun and rewarding it is after putting all the hard work in during practice is great. I definitely think the guys having that experience is a big help. The younger guys are riding along right with them.”

Of course, a few of the younger players on the team have big-game experience — just in a different major tournament.

“Those guys have been on the big stage too in the Little League World Series,” Szynal said. “They are no strangers to big games and big-time crowds and things like that. It’s an added bonus for us.”

DuBois won its first two PIAA baseball playoff games in 12 years over the last week. Last year, the Beavers lost 15-1 in the first round.

“Up and down the lineup, they have some guys with some really good numbers,” Szynal said. “You have guys with some pop. I noticed the number of home runs they have and a lot of extra-base hits. We’re going to have to keep the ball down and play good defense against their lineup.”

As a team, DuBois has hit 17 home runs led by Mason Dinkfelt’s seven. The Beavers are coming off a 13-10 win over WPIAL champion Upper St. Clair.

“I said to the guys as the game went on, I could see the fight and a baseball team out there just getting better each inning,” Johnson said. “It was really fun to be part of, answering back each inning and making plays on defense. We had guys getting plugged into different positions, and that’s what all those reps all season led up to. If you can practice like a game, the game is going to be easier for them. That’s why they are able to do what they do.”

Since 2017, Hollidaysburg is 8-1 against DuBois with the lone loss coming in 2023 by a run.

“We have been hitting the ball hard and coming up with some big hits,” Szynal said. “We have been drawing walks and doing some good things on the bases. Offensively, we have been doing well and scoring enough with our good pitching. Hopefully that will continue.”

Recent series history

A look at the most recent matchups between Hollidaysburg and DuBois in high school baseball from 2016-2025.

DATE WINNER SCORE

April 28, 2025 Hollidaysburg 4-1

April 29, 2024 Hollidaysburg 3-1

April 21, 2023 DuBois 4-3

April 22, 2022 Hollidaysburg 12-2

May 20, 2021 Hollidaysburg 12-2

April 27, 2021 Hollidaysburg 9-2

April 3, 2019 Hollidaysburg 19-4

May 11, 2018 Hollidaysburg 8-5

May 10, 2018 Hollidaysburg 14-6

May 3, 2017 Hollidaysburg 10-1

May 10, 2016 DuBois 5-4

April 6, 2016 Hollidaysburg 8-4