Spartan fans filled nearly every seat and bleacher space at Bowman Field as the Spartan baseball team made their first appearance in a state playoff game. Above Hughesville students along with team members display their motto "Believe".

First Round

Hughesville 2, Kutztown 1

In the first round of the state playoffs against Kutztown, Hughesville’s Justin Lambert threw a complete-game seven-hit shutout, Brady Kimble ignited two rallies, catcher Brett Reitz threw out out two runners, and the defense played an error-less game as Hughesville blanked Kutztown, 2-0 in their first ever Class AA state tournament.

Lambert threw 77 pitches and his second straight shutout. The most pitches he threw in an inning was 17, coming in the seventh.

Kutztown, District 3, had runners on first and third with two outs in the seventh but Lambert threw a game-ending flyout to Sadiq Burkholder in center field. That seventh inning was the only time Kutztown advanced a runner past third against Lambert.

Brady Kimble hit two perfect bunt singles in the fourth and sixth inning. His first bunt was hit down the third-base line before he stole second and went to third on Lambert’s grounder. Jason Stroup hit one towards third base that resulted in a two-out RBI infield single.

Tyler Mitcheltree reached on an error to start the sixth, Kimble bunted toward first base and again beat the throw. Burkholder was intentionally walked and Lambert delivered a perfect RBI squeeze, scoring Mitcheltree and putting Hughesville up 2-0.

Kutztown 00’0 000-0 7 1

Hughesville 000 101-2 4 0

Andrew Gernert and Andrew Entriken. Justin Lambert and Brett Reitz. W-Lambert, . L-Gernert

Top Kutztown hitters: Gernert 2-3, 2B; Dustin Smith 2-3. Top Hughesville hitters: Brady Kimble 2-2, SB, R; Lambert 1-2, RBI; Jason Stroup 1-3, RBI.

PIAA Class AA State Quarterfinals

Salisbury 9, Hughesville 5

The Spartans overcame an early three-run deficit with help from a dropped pop-up in the third inning and scored three runs on balls which never left the infield in Thursday’s loss to Salisbury, 9-5.

The Spartans made four errors against a Salisbury team which hadn’t lost a game in a month, and just once this year. Two first-inning errors led to three runs.

Hughesville senior Sadiq Burkholder threw 119 pitches in six innings and stranded 11 runners on base,, and Zach Fry went 3 for 3 with three RBIs.

Salisbury 301 020 3 – 9 12 2 Hughesville 014 000 0 – 5 7 4

Justin Aungst, Tyler Cooperman (4) and Chase Rogers. Sadiq Burkholder, Tyler Mitcheltree (7) and Brett Reitz.

W-Cooperman. L-Burkholder.

Top Salisbury hitters: Brad Vengeli, 1-3, run; Alex Clark, 1-2, RBI, run; Nic Ampietro, 2-5, double, RBI, 2 runs; Justin Aungst, RBI; Mason Kresley, 1-3, RBI, run; Zach Seitz, 3-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Tyler Cooperman, 2-3, RBI, run; Chase Rogers, 2-4, RBI, run. Top Hughesville hitters: Tyler Mitcheltree, 1-2, run; Brady Kimble, 1-2, run; Justin Lambert, 1-3, RBI; Zach Fry, 3-3, 3 RBIs; Knevin Gouldner, 1-1.

Pitching lines: Salisbury, Justin Aungst (3+ IP, 4 hits, 5 runs, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K), Tyler Cooperman (4 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K). Hughesville, Sadiq Burkholder (6+ IP, 11 hits, 7 runs, 7 ER, 5 BB, 6 K), Tyler Mitcheltree (1 IP, 1 hit, 2 runs, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K).