Pennsylvania loses to Maryland in first game of Big 26 Baseball Classic
Jul. 22—Pennsylvania lost to Maryland 11-7 in the first game of the Big 26 Baseball Classic Friday at Harrisburg's FNB Field.
Five Berks players are on the Pennsylvania roster: Muhlenberg's Cameron Burr, Gov. Mifflin's Bryce Detwiler, Exeter's Alex Kelsey, Berks Catholic's Parker Nein and Oley Valley's Paul Petersen.
Maryland took control with five runs in the third, two in the fourth and two in the fifth to take a 10-1 lead.
Pennsylvania cut it to 10-2 with a run in the sixth.
Burr had an RBI single in the eighth as Pennsylvania got within 10-3.
Maryland added a run in the ninth before Pennsylvania rallied in the bottom half.
Detwiler knocked in the first run with a single. Plymouth-Whitemarsh's Johnny Giordano, named the Pennsylvania Player of the Game, hit a two-run double. He eventually scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-7.
Pennsylvania had the tying run on deck when reliever Garrett Worth came in to get the final out, a strikeout on three pitches.
Kelsey started in center field and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. Petersen started at second base and went 0-for-3.
Burr, who followed Petersen at second base, went 1-for-1 with a run, an RBI and two walks.
Detwiler, who came off the bench to play third, went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. He also had a diving catch in the eighth.
Nein pitched a scoreless sixth inning. He walked one and struck out two.
The three-game series continues at FNB Field Saturday at 4:35 p.m. Game 3 is Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Pennsylvania's roster was selected following a tryout in May.
