Parkland High School Baseball: Welcome

Senior pitcher Tyler Duff pitched a 3-hit complete game to lead the Trojans to a 4-1 victory over visiting Liberty in the opening round of District XI playoffs.  This is Duff's third win over Liberty this season and the second time he has gone the distance against Liberty.  After allowing the lead off hitter of the game to reach on a single in the first inning, Duff did not allow another base hit until the 7th inning, retiring 17 of the next 19 Liberty batters.  Duff finished with four strikeouts and walked two.

Parkland took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning when Damin Muth reached on an error with two outs.  Tyler Graeff (1-3, double, RBI) then hit a double off the fence in left-centerfield to bring home the first run of the game.  Parkland took a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning when Alex Flynn (1-4, run) led off the inning with a single and later scored on a Hudson Rabenold (1-3, double, RBI) double.  The Trojans then tacked on two important insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th inning.  Chris Rabasco (2-2, BB, run) led off with a single and advanced to second base on an error.  Adam Schneck (1-3) then laid down a bunt that Liberty threw down the right field line that allowed Rabasco to score.  After Schneck was caught stealing, Brandon Evans reached base on a hit-by-pitch and scored on a Brad Vasilik (1-4, triple, RBI) triple to deep right-center to give Parkland the 4-0 lead heading into the 7th inning.  Zack Merkle (1-2, BB, double, run) led off the 4th inning with a double, but was left stranded.

After getting the first Liberty batter out on a ground ball to start the 7th, the next two batters hit back-to-back doubles to score Liberty's first run of the game.  Duff, dominant the entire game, quickly regained control to get the remaining two outs on a pop up and fly out for the 4-1 victory.

The Parkland Trojans' 11-game win streak came to a disappointing end in the LVC championship game played at Hackett Park in Easton as the Whitehall Zephyrs won by a score of 5-2 to take the 2013 crown.  The Trojans got off to a great start.  In the top half of the 1st inning a Whitehall base hit was quickly erased with an inning ending double play.  In the bottom half of the 1st, lead off hitter Brad Vasilik (2-4, run) wasted no time hitting the very first pitch down the left field line for a single.  Damin Muth then reached base on an error that put runners on second and third.  Tyler Graeff (2-3, 2B, run, 2-RBI) hit a 2-RBI single to give Parkland a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. 

In the 3rd inning, Whitehall took a 3-2 lead after scoring three runs in their half of the inning.  With two out and nobody on in the Trojan half of the 3rd inning, Graeff got things going with a double to right field, and the next batter, Hudson Rabenold (2-3), singled.  What looked like a Trojan two-out rally was quickly ended when Graeff was tagged out at the plate on the Whitehall relay throw from right field.  With Whitehall scoring single runs in the 4th and 5th innings they increased their lead to 5-2.  Although the Trojans scattered nine hits during the game, they could not string enough together to get back into the game.  With one out in the 6th inning, back-to-back singles by Rabenold and Chris Rabasco (1-3) put runners on first and second, but they would be left stranded.  Nate Case (1-3) and Alex Flynn (1-2) each added singles. 

Senior catcher Damin Muth, Junior outfielder Brad Vasilik, and Junior pitcher Alex Flynn were named to the Lehigh Valley Conference 2013 All-Conference baseball team.   Muth is currently batting 0.414 with 10 extra base hits and leads the team with 20 RBI's.   Parkland's lead off hitter, Vasilik, is currently batting 0.418 and leads the team in both total hits with 33 and in runs scored with 22.  Pitcher Flynn has a record of 6-0 along with a team-best 0.78 ERA amongst the starting rotation.  

Senior pitcher Tyler Duff and Senior first baseman Tyler Graeff received honorable mention honors from the LVC.  Duff currently has a 6-0 record and 1.03 ERA, and leads the pitching staff with 43 strikeouts.  Graeff is currently hitting 0.367 with eight extra base hits, including two homeruns.  Graeff has also driven in 18 runs. 

Congratulations to Damin, Brad, Alex, Tyler G., and Tyler D.!       

The Parkland Trojans defeated Liberty in the LVC semi-final game at Hackett Park in Easton by a score of 4-3 and advance to the championship game tomorrow night against Whitehall.  The Trojans scored all of their runs early in the game scoring in each of the first 3 innings to take a 4-0 lead after 3 innings of play.  Parkland only had five base hits, but took advantage of walks, hit-by-pitch and Liberty miscues.  Liberty rallied late in the game scoring their first run in the 5th inning and then plated two more runs in the top of the 7th inning to close the gap to 4-3, but the game would end by the same score with Liberty threatening to score more in the 7th.

In the first inning, Brad Vasilik led off with a walk and after Alex Flynn (1-4) singled to put runners on first and second base, Damin Muth sacrifice bunted to move the runners over.  The next batter, Tyler Graeff (1-2, SF, run, RBI), then brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly to center field.  Parkland took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning when Chris Rabasco (1-3, run) led off the inning with a single and then moved up a base when Zack Merkle reached base on a Liberty error.  Rabasco later scored on a wild pitch.  In the 3rd inning, back-to-back singles by Graeff and Hudson Rabenold (1-3, run) followed by a Merkle hit-by-pitch loaded the bases.  An RBI single by Justin Afflerbach (1-2, BB, RBI) gave Parkland the 3-0 lead.  Another hit-by-pitch, this time Nate Case, forced home Parkland's fourth run. 

Starting pitcher Tyler Duff worked 5+ innings allowing one run on six hits and two walks.  Duff struck out four.  Duff held Liberty scoreless until the 5th inning when the first three Liberty batters of the inning each singled to load the bases with no outs.  Duff worked out of the jam allowing only the one run to score on a sacrifice fly and getting out of the inning with a strikeout and another flyball.  Alex Flynn relieved Duff in the 6th inning and pitched 1 1/3 innings allowing two runs on four hits and one walk.  Liberty rallied to score two runs in the 7th inning to close within one run of tying the game.  After Liberty then put runners on first and second with only one out and threatening to not only tie the game, but plate the go-ahead run, Gabe Mosser relieved Flynn.  Mosser was calm in the pressure situation and promptly put an end to any further Liberty threat by striking out the two batters he faced to preserve the win and earn a much deserved save.

The Parkland Trojans hosted a day-night doubleheader against two of the top teams in the league today and came away with two wins, the LVC North Division Title, and the #1 seed heading into the LVC playoffs next week. The wins capped off a regular season schedule that saw the Trojans win their last 10 games in a row and finish with a league best conference record of 13-1 and league best overall record of 18-2.

In the first game against Whitehall, the Trojans scored three runs in the 3rd inning when Alex Flynn (2-3, run) singled and Damin Muth (1-3, BB)  walked to put runners on first and second. Tyler Graeff (2-4, 2 runs, RBI) plated the first run with an RBI single, Chris Rabasco reached on an error that scored another run, then Adam Schneck walked with the bases loaded to give the Trojans the 3-0 lead. Parkland added another three runs in the 5th inning when Hudson Rabenold (1-3, RBI) singled home Graeff who had reached base on another single. Brad Vasilik (1-4, 2 RBI) then singled with the based loaded to drive in two runs and give Parkland a 6-0 lead.   Jordan Jones (1-1) added a single to Parkland’s offense.

Whitehall scored two unearned runs in the 6th inning, but that is all they would get as starting pitcher Gabe Mosser pitched six strong innings earning his fourth win of the year. This was Mosser's second strong outing against the highly ranked Whitehall Zephyrs. Earlier in the year Mosser pitched a complete game against Whitehall at Coca-Cola Park, but was on the wrong end of a 1-0 loss. Mosser allowed 5 hits and two walks while striking out three. Connor Higgins worked the 7th inning, striking out two and worked around a double to end the game for a 6-2 Parkland victory.

The night game against Emmaus provided another example of why baseball is the greatest game.  The game featured Parkland starting pitcher Alex Flynn and Emmaus’ crafty southpaw Josh LeMaster.  After two scoreless innings, Emmaus struck first to take a 3-0 lead in the 3rd inning, taking advantage of two Parkland errors.  All three runs were unearned.  Flynn took matters into his own hands after that retiring the next 10 batters in a row until another Parkland error in the 7th inning allowed a batter to reach base.  Flynn finished with a complete game allowing only three hits, one walk, while striking out two. 

After the first eight Parkland batters of the game were set down in order, Nate Case (2-3, 2 runs) got things going for the Trojans in the 3rd inning with a two-out infield single.  Brad Vasilik (2-4, double, 2 runs, RBI) then followed with an RBI double to score Parkland’s first run, and Alex Flynn (2-4, RBI) then singled home Vasilik to cut Emmaus’ lead to 3-2.  LeMaster also took control of the game after Parkland’s two-run 3rd inning, only allowing one hit, a double to Chris Rabasco (1-3, double), through the next three innings. 

Like he did in the 3rd inning with two outs, Nate Case kept the Trojans alive in the 7th inning with another two-out single, hitting the first pitch of his at-bat.  Vasilik followed suit with a single of his own to put the tying run in scoring position at second base.  Emmaus was one strike away from victory with a 1-2 count on Alex Flynn, but Flynn put the ball in play and legged out an infield single to load the bases.  LeMaster was finally lifted for an Emmaus reliever.  On a night that Parkland honored its eight graduating senior players in a pre-game ceremony, it was fitting that two seniors led the way to victory over rival Emmaus.  Senior Nate Case  started both of Parkland’s two-out rallies with base hits in the 3rd and 7th innings.  With Case only 90 feet away with the tying run and the winning run standing on second base, Parkland’s senior catcher, Damin Muth (1-4, double, 2 RBI), stepped to the plate.  After watching the first strike go by, Muth drove the next pitch deep down the right field line that landed for a double, scoring two runs for the 4-3 walk-off win.

The Parkland Trojans defeated Northampton tonight for their eighth consecutive win to improve their record to 16-2. Tyler Duff had another strong performance on the mound pitching another complete game to lead the Trojans to the 4-1 victory. Duff pitched no-hit ball until the lead off batter for Northampton in the 5th inning reached base with a single. Although the next two Nortampton batters would reach to load the bases with no outs in the 5th, Duff worked himself out of the jam only allowing one run to score on a ground out.  Duff allowed only three hits, two walks, and struck out four. Duff improved his record to 5-0 and with a 0.98 ERA, Duff is one of three regular Parkland pitchers with an ERA below 1.00.

Parkland scored its first run in the 1st inning when Brad Vasilik (4-4, 3 runs) reached base on an error and later scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Damin Muth (1-3, SF, 2 RBI). Parkland added two more runs in the 3rd inning. With two out and the bases empty, Vasilik reached on a bunt single and Justin Afflerbach (1-3, BB, run) singled to put runners on the corners. Muth then drove in his second run of the game with the RBI single and Tyler Graeff (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) scored Afflerbach on an RBI ground-rule double. Graeff added another RBI hit in the 5th inning when he singled home Vasilik who had reached base earlier in the inning on a single, giving the Trojans a 4-0 lead. Zack Merkle (1-3) added a single to the Parkland offense. After Northampton scored its only run of the game in the 5th inning, Duff took control and retired the next seven batters in a row to cruise the Trojans to victory.

The JVs defeated Northampton 9-4 to end a two-game losing streak. The Trojans jumped on the Kids by scoring five in the first, and tacked on single runs in the second and fourth innings and two in the third.

2B-SS Tyler Bruno (0-1, 1 run, 2 BB, 1 HBP) led off the bottom of the first with a walk.   3B Harrison Rabenold (3-4, 2 runs) singled to left, with Bruno scoring on an error.   LF-P Jeff Strisovsky (2-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2B) singled to right advancing Rabenold to third.   CF Isaac Neal (2-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI) and SS Evan McAndrew (1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI) both singled to third, scoring Rabenold and Strisovsky, respectively.   RF Josh Dieter (1-2) singled to right and 1B Kyle Novobilski (2-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 2B) walked to load the bases. C Kyle Friebolin (1-2, 1 run, 2 RBI, SF) tallied McAndrew with a sacrifice fly to right.

In the second, Rabenold singled and stole second.   Strisovsky plated him with a double to deep left center.   With two outs in the third, Novobilski stroked a double down the left field line and Friebolin scored him with a single.   After a walk to Bruno, Courtesy runner Andrew Roth scored on an error.   The Trojans closed out their scoring in the fourth with Neal singling, stealing second and scoring on a Novobilski single.

Starting P Braeden Duff pitched four innings, allowing 3 unearned runs on four hits, while striking out five batters.   Reliever Strisovsky gave up a run on one hit and K’d five.

Defensive gems were turned in by 3B Tanner Stufflet, knocking down a smash targeted for LF and gunning out the hitter at first, and Neal going a long way into the left center alley to track down a long fly ball.

The Parkland Trojans traveled to Hostelley Field to face North Penn in a non-conference match up where Connor Higgins pitched a complete game, two-hitter to lead the Parkland Trojans to a 4-1 victory.  Higgins allowed only one run (unearned), walked four, and struck out seven.  North Penn's lone run came in the third inning on a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 North Penn lead.   

The Trojans struggled early at the plate collecting their first hit in the 3rd inning on a Brad Vasilik (1-5) bunt single.  In the 4th inning, the Trojans put together a two-out rally when Hudson Rabenold (1-4, run) singled and Zack Merkle (2-3, double, BB, RBI) doubled to put runners on second and third, but they were left stranded.  The score remained 1-0 in favor of North Penn until the 6th inning where the Trojans again staged another two-out rally, this time with a different outcome.  With two out and the bases empty, Rabenold reached base on a North Penn error and Zack Merkle walked to put runners on first and second.  Gabe Mosser (2-4,  2 RBI) then delivered a cluth single to score Parkland's first run and tie the game at 1-1.  Parkland threatened for more in the 6th when the next batter walked to load the bases, but the inning ended with three more Parkland base runners stranded.

With the score still tied going into the 7th inning, Justin Afflerbach (1-3, run) led off the inning with a single.  A sacrifice bunt by Damin Muth put Afflerbach into scoring position at second base.  After a walk to Tyler Graeff (0-1, 3 BB), Chris Rabasco (1-4, run, RBI) delivered the game-winning RBI base hit to score Afflerbach and give the Trojans a 2-1 lead. The Trojans were not done, however. Another North Penn error loaded the bases for the Trojans again. Merkle singled to drive in a run to incease Parkland's lead to 3-1. Mosser then followed with another RBI base hit for another Parkland insurance run and a 4-1 lead.

Higgins would make the lead stick.   Although North Penn's lead off hitter in the bottom of the 7th inning drove a double deep into the right center gap, Higgins struck out the next two batters. A walk then put North Penn runners on first and second, but Higgins sealed the victory for the Trojans by striking out the next batter for the final out.

The Parkland Trojan pitching staff collected its eighth shutout of the season as Alex Flynn tossed a three-hit, complete game shutout to lead the Trojans to a 4-0 win over Easton.  Flynn struck out six batters and walked none.  Flynn also collected six outs on infield pop ups.  Flynn improved his personal record to 5-0 this season with an amazingly low 0.28 ERA. 

Parkland scored two runs in the 2nd inning when Justin Afflerbach (1-for-3, sac bunt, 2 RBI) singled to drive in Tyler Graeff (1-for-2, run, 2 BB) and Chris Rabasco (0-for-1, 3 BB, 2 runs).  Graeff had reached on a single, and after Rabasco walked, Zack Merkle (1-for-2, HBP, sac bunt) sacrifice bunted to put both runners in scoring position for Afflerbach. 

The Trojans added single runs in the 4th and 6th innings to take the 4-0 lead and eventual win.  Rabasco led off the 4th with a walk that was followed by a Merkle single.  After Afflerbach sacrifice bunted the runners into scoring position, Rabasco scored on a Jordan Jones RBI ground out.  With two out and the bases empty in the 6th inning, Brad Vasilik walked then stole second base.  Alex Flynn (1-for-3, double, sac bunt, RBI) then delivered a two-out, RBI double just over the left fielder's head to bring home Vasilik for Parkland's 4th run.  Damin Muth was the only Parkland hitter with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 with a double. 

The Parkland Trojans clinched a spot in the Lehigh Valley Conference tournament with a convincing win over Nazareth by a score of 15-0 in a three inning, mercy-rule shortened game.  Prior to the game, the Trojans celebrated "Youth Night" with numerous local youth ball players joining the players on the field for the National Anthem. 

Pitcher Gabe Mosser had a short night of work, needing only three innings on the mound to get the win, thanks to Parkland hitters that put four runs on the board in the first inning of play and followed that with six runs in the second inning, and five runs in the third inning.  Mosser needed only 38 pitches to record the nine outs, allowing only one base hit, no walks, and struck out five.

After Brad Vasilik (2-for-2, 2 runs) scored Parkland's first run on a fielders choice off the bat of Damin Muth (1-for-2, 2 RBI), Zack Merkle (1-for-1, double, BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI) drove a ball to deep left field for a double that plated two more runs for the early 3-0 lead.  Adam Schneck (1-for-2, RBI) then singled to score Merkle to make it 4-0.  Consecutive singles by Vasilik, Nate Case (1-for-1, 2 runs, BB), and Muth to start the second inning scored Parkland's fifth run.  The next two batters continued the trend with a single by Tyler Graeff (1-for-1, 2 runs, BB) and then a 2-RBI single by Chris Rabasco (1-for-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI) gave Parkland a 7-0 lead.  A Nazareth error and wild pitch allowed three more runs to score in the inning.  Parkland ended the game in the bottom of the 3rd inning when they batted around to score five more runs.  Connor Higgins (1-for-1, RBI) drove in a run with an infield single, Alex Flynn had an RBI base on ball, and Ryan Dumbach (2-for-2, RBI) had two hits in the inning, including the game-ending single that plated the 15th run.