Mid Valley Clinches Spot in AAAA Final with 4-1 Win Over Scranton Prep
By: Brad Loff | Sportzwire | May 23, 2025 | Photo courtesy BlSportsPhotography.com / Brad Loff
Mid Valley leaned on timely hitting, lockdown pitching, and a sharp defensive effort to secure a 4-1 victory over Scranton Prep in Friday’s District II AAAA semifinal at MVHS Field.
Scranton Prep jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first when Joe Connolly knocked an RBI single, scoring AJ Croom, who opened the game with a hit and went 3-for-4 on the day. The Cavaliers totaled seven hits but couldn’t push across any more runs, stranding several runners and coming up empty after the first inning.
Mid Valley responded immediately in the bottom half of the frame. Lorenzo Hernandez delivered a clutch RBI double to center field, and Doug Pua followed with a line drive RBI single to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead. Mid Valley added one more run in the second off a wild pitch, and Pua padded the lead in the fifth with his second RBI of the day, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two total bases. Nick Mills also added two hits and scored twice.
Hernandez took over from there, spinning a complete game gem. The right-hander tossed 7.0 innings, giving up just one unearned run on seven hits while striking out eight and walking three. He threw 98 pitches—62 for strikes—and faced 30 batters in the win.
Scranton Prep’s Paul Rusincovitch went six innings in the loss, surrendering four runs (all earned) on eight hits with two walks and no strikeouts.
On defense, the Spartans turned two double plays and overcame a fielding error to hold Scranton Prep in check. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers played clean defensively, committing zero errors behind Rusincovitch. Jake Murnock handled five chances at second base.
Mid Valley’s win sends them to the District II AAAA championship game, where they’ll look to ride their momentum and stellar pitching one more time.
Stat Breakdown:
Mid Valley (4 Runs, 8 Hits)
Doug Pua: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
Nick Mills: 2-for-3, 2 R
Lorenzo Hernandez: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, W (7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K)
J Cali: 1-for-2, 2B
C Eshelman: 1-for-3
C Lukasavage: 1-for-2
Team Batting: 2 2B, 8 H, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 0 SO
Scranton Prep (1 Run, 7 Hits)
AJ Croom: 3-for-4, R
Joe Connolly: 1-for-2, RBI
P Rusincovitch, M DeRichie, Z Charneski: 1 H each
Rusincovitch (L): 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
