June 2, 2014: Hazleton 4, Hempfield 3
In the first round of the PIAA AAAA Tournament, Hempfield jumped out to a 3-0 lead but could not hold on as Hazleton tied the game with 3 runs in the 6th inning and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 7th. The loss ends Hempfield season with a 17-11 overall record.
Hempfield scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning as 5 runners reached base: Chase Gilbert, Derek Manning, Michael Hernandez and Tim Gailor contributed with singles and Jon Peterson walked. In the 5th inning, Derek Manning reached on an error and advanced to third when Michael Hernandez doubled to left field. Manning scored Hempfield's 3rd run on a sacrifice from Tim Gailor.
Jon Peterson took a no-hitter into the 6th inning, allowing only two runners over the first 5 - one via error and another via walk. Two infield errors in the 6th inning helped Hazelton score 3 runs, as two runs were driven in on a double to left field by Dante Biasi. In the 7th inning, Hazelton plated the winning run when the inning's lead off batter reached on a single and then advanced to second base on a sacrifice. With two outs, a seeing-eye single up the middle leaked into center field, and Hazelton walked off with the victory.
Hempfield's 2014 season ends with many commendable accomplishments and achievements, both collective and individual. The 2014 Black Knights captured the 9th Lancaster-Lebanon League Championship in school history, advanced to the District 3 Championship game for the 2nd time in school history, and qualified for the PIAA State Tournament (AAAA) for the 3rd time in school history. Individually, Chase Gilbert and Michael Hernandez added their names to single season leader board in hits and Gilbert also adding his name on the leader board in doubles in a season. Jon Peterson's 87 strikeouts in the season tied him for 5th in single season strikeouts.
May 29, 2014: Cedar Cliff 11, Hempfield 5
Cedar Cliff scored multiple runs in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th innings en route to an 11-5 victory and the PIAA District 3 Championship for 2014.
Hempfield jumped out to a 3-0 lead with Grant Oberholtzer scoring the first run of the game when Michael Hernandez's fly ball to right field could not be handled. Hernandez then scored on a single to center field from Jon Beck. Jon Peterson scored in the 2nd inning after doubling to left field and advancing to third base, and then scoring, on successive wild pitches. Hempfield added single runs in the 6th and 7th inning. Tim Gailor doubled to lead off the 6th inning and was sent in to score on Jon Peterson's second double of the game; in the 7th inning a solo home run deep to the seats in left field off the bat of Derek Manning scored Hempfield's 5th and final run.
With the loss, Hempfield drops to 17-10 on the season.
May 27, 2014: Hempfield 3, Red Land 0
Jon Peterson authored a brilliant complete game, 3 hit shut out while pitching Hempfield to the PIAA District 3 (AAAA) Championship for the 2nd time in school history. Peterson allowed 8 base runners (4 walks, 1 hit batsmen) but was at his best when it counted, working out of jams in the 1st, 3rd and 6th innings.
Red Land's Zach Newmyer was equally as impressive as Peterson, making the Black Knights work very hard for any offense in their 7 chances at the plate. Newmyer struck out 12 and walked 2. Hempfield scored their first run in the 2nd inning when Michael Hernandez reached on an infield error and reached second via stolen base. He scored on Jon Peterson's RBI single to right. In the 7th inning, Hempfield added two insurance runs. Jon Peterson reached on a walk and was ran for by Matt Steimling, who promptly stole second base. When Greg Gambler grounded back to the pitcher, Steimling got held up between 2nd and 3rd but was able to reach 3rd when the throw was late. Steimling was plated on a sacrifice fly from Ben Lukawski to center field; Dustin Walter (running for Gambler) also tug up and advanced to 2nd. Chase Gilbert's 2 out single scored Walter and pushed Hempfield's lead to 3 runs.
With the win, Hempfield punches their ticked to the PIAA District 3 (AAAA) Championship game for only the 2nd time in school history. Hempfield's record stands at 17-9. The win is the 720th in school history.
May 22, 2014: Hempfield 5, Governor Mifflin 3
Super sophomore Alec Miller fired a complete game at Ephrata’s War Memorial Field to lead Hempfiled past Governor Mifflin and into the District 3 semi-finals. Working at his typical frenetic pace, Miller fired first pitch strikes to 24 of the 30 batters he faced. He struck out three, walked none, and allowed six hits over seven innings.
Hempfield chased Mustangs’ starter Tanner DeLucia in the 5th inning. After scoring one run in the 2nd inning, Hempfield added four more in the 5th to take a 5-1 lead. Tim Gailor started the action when he reached on an infield error and made it to third after a stolen base and an infield ground out. Greg Gambler’s RBI single scored Gailor and Ben Lukawski and Chase Gilbert followed with singles to load the bases. Grant Oberholtzer popped to third base for the inning’s second out, and Derek Manning’s bases loaded walk scored Gambler. Michael Hernandez’s single down the left field line scored Lukawski and Gilbert and finished the Knights’ scoring in the inning.
Hernandez’s two-RBI single was a prelude to his spectacular defensive play in the bottom of the same inning. Mifflin answered Hempfield with two runs of their own thanks to an infield error and three consecutive singles. With the bases loaded, Hernandez fielded an infield chopper off-balance and fired to the plate for a force out (It was Hernandez’s second incredible defensive play; in the second inning he barehanded a bunt attempt and fired to first for the out). Miller retired the next batter to end the inning and limit the Mifflin rally to two runs. In the 7th inning, Miller worked through a lead off single and recorded the game’s final out on a strike out.
With the win, Hempfield moves to 16-9 on the season. The win is the 719th in school history.
May 19, 2014: Hempfield 7, Reading 3
In the first round of the PIAA District 3 Tournament, #16 seeded Hempfield went into Reading’s historic George Field and defeated the #1 seeded Reading Red Knights by a score of 7-3. Playing in front of a large and spirited crowd Hempfield drew first blood with a run in the 1st inning. With two outs and no one on base, Derek Manning walked and Michael Hernandez and Jon Beck hit back to back singles to score Manning. Hempfield added three more runs in the 2nd inning. With one man on base and one out, Chase Gilbert, Grant Oberholtzer and Derek Manning added consecutive hits to push Hempfield’s advantage to 4-0.
Reading plated two runs in the 3rd inning and one run in the 5th inning to push the score to 4-3. In the top of the 6th, Hempfield added two runs. With Tim Gailor on third base and two outs, Ben Lukawski’s single to left scored Hempfield’s 5th run. Lukawski then stole second base and scored on Chase Gilbert’s single to left field. Hempfield would add an insurance run in the 7th inning with two outs and no one on base. Jon Peterson singled to left field and Reading committed consecutive infield errors to load the bases. Chase Gilbert’s bases loaded walk scored Peterson to push the score to 7-3.
Jon Peterson pitched into the 6th inning and was relieved by Alec Miller. Miller recorded the game’s final five outs, four via strike out. Peterson and Miller struck out 13 Reading hitters, combined to allow six walks and four hits.
With the win, Hempfield moves to 15-9 on the season. The win is the 718th in school history.