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19 Innings One Survivor: Dunmore Outlasts Lake-Lehman in Back Mountain Marathon

19 Innings One Survivor: Dunmore Outlasts Lake-Lehman in Back Mountain Marathon

By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | May 21, 2026 | Photo courtesy Joe Grochowski

LEHMAN TWP. — Some games become memories. Others become stories.

Thursday afternoon’s District 2 Class 3A semifinal between No. 3 Dunmore and No. 2 Lake-Lehman evolved into something much bigger.

Nineteen innings bigger.

In what appears to be the longest PIAA playoff baseball game ever played, Dunmore outlasted Lake-Lehman 6-5 in 19 innings, surviving a game that tested arms, legs, nerves, and every ounce of depth both teams had available.

The previous known mark sat at 17 innings when Indiana defeated East Pennsboro, 6-5, in a June 2025 state playoff game. Ironically, Thursday ended with the exact same final score.

After nearly three complete baseball games worth of baseball, Nate Grochowski finally delivered the swing that separated the two teams.

With the game deadlocked at five entering the top of the 19th, Grochowski lined a go-ahead RBI single to put Dunmore ahead for good.

Seven innings after entering the game on the mound, Evan Mizenko shut the door in the bottom half and the Bucks finally erupted after surviving one of the wildest games District 2 has seen.

Lake-Lehman grabbed control early.

The Black Knights plated two runs in the opening inning behind timely hits, with Von Voelker driving in one of the runs to help the hosts jump in front 2-0.

Dunmore spent much of the day climbing back.

The Bucks chipped away before Mizenko delivered one of the game’s biggest moments in the fifth inning, launching a two-run home run to right field that suddenly shifted momentum and tied the game.

Lake-Lehman continued to answer and eventually carried a 5-3 lead into the seventh inning.

Dunmore wasn’t done.

Mizenko brought in a run with a sacrifice fly before Jackson Cady followed with an RBI groundout to knot things back up at 5-5.

Then the game entered survival mode.

For the next 12 innings, both teams stranded runners, escaped pressure situations and continued finding ways to extend the day.

Dunmore’s pitching effort became one of the game’s defining stories.

After Jamie McMynne battled through the opening 4.1 innings, Jackson Cady took over and delivered 7.2 scoreless innings, scattering seven hits while striking out eight.

When Cady finally emptied the tank, Mizenko stepped into yet another role.

The catcher turned pitcher fired seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three to earn the win.

Lake-Lehman matched the effort with an impressive pitching performance of its own.

Andrew Morris gave the Black Knights six innings, allowing three runs while striking out five. Will Jenkins followed with five innings of work and seven strikeouts before Justin Morris delivered eight strong innings in relief, allowing just one run.

Dunmore finished with 16 hits.

Mason Stets and Evan Mizenko led the charge, each collecting four hits. Mizenko finished with three RBIs, including the pivotal two-run homer.

Grochowski, Cady, and Anthony Yerka added multiple-hit performances for the Bucks, while McMynne drew three walks.

Lake-Lehman collected 11 hits and continued putting pressure on the bases all afternoon.

Voelker paced the Black Knights with a 3-for-9 performance and two RBIs, while Devon Albee and Will Jenkins each added two hits. Lake-Lehman also stole four bases, with Voelker swiping two.

Eventually, after nearly five hours and 19 innings, one team simply had one more inning left.

One more hit. One more run. One more answer.

With the win, Dunmore advances to Tuesday’s District 2 Class 3A championship game, where the Bucks will meet the Riverside Vikings with a district title on the line.

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