Blue Knights Storm Back: Wyoming Seminary Erupts Late To Stun Holy Redeemer, Punch District Title Ticket
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | May 23, 2026 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus
WILKES-BARRE — Wyoming Seminary waited until the final inning to deliver its biggest punch of the afternoon.
Trailing 3-0 entering the seventh inning, the No. 4 Blue Knights erupted for five runs in a stunning rally Friday at Gibby Field, storming past Holy Redeemer 6-3 in a District 2 Class 2A semifinal matchup.
With the win, Wyoming Seminary advances to the District 2 Class 2A championship game where the Blue Knights will face No. 2 Elk Lake on Friday, May 29 at the University of Scranton.
For six innings, Holy Redeemer had the Blue Knights searching for answers.
The Royals struck early in the opening frame as Dominic Marranca reached and later scored, while another run crossed on a wild pitch to give Holy Redeemer an early 2-0 advantage.
Redeemer stretched the lead to 3-0 in the third inning when Marranca ripped an RBI single down the left-field line.
On the mound, Cody Quaglia was in command for much of the afternoon. The Royals starter worked five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit while striking out five and keeping Seminary’s offense quiet.
But the Blue Knights continued to grind out at-bats and create pressure.
Wyoming Seminary showed patience throughout the game, collecting 11 walks and repeatedly putting runners aboard despite limited hits.
That persistence finally paid off in the seventh.
The Blue Knights exploded for five runs to completely swing the momentum. Nieko Ravaioli delivered one of the key blows with an RBI double during the rally, while George Rolland, Leo Nockley, Ryan Finlay, Caleb Aponick, and CJ Stevenson each drove in runs as Seminary stormed ahead.
Ravaioli reached base four times and drew three walks, while also swiping two bases.
Nockley was a disruptive force on the basepaths as well, stealing four bases and scoring a run.
Seminary stole eight bases as a team and consistently pressured Holy Redeemer defensively throughout the afternoon.
Aponick was equally important on the mound after entering in relief following a rough opening sequence. The right-hander settled things down and gave Seminary a chance to mount the comeback.
Aponick earned the victory after allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out four.
Rolland, Nockley, Ravaioli, Finlay and Aponick each collected hits for Wyoming Seminary.
Holy Redeemer was paced offensively by Marranca, who reached safely three times, drove in a run and stole two bases. Noah Hummel, Samuel Shovlin, and Quaglia also recorded hits for the Royals.
Redeemer’s defense remained sharp all afternoon and finished without committing an error. Alex Gordon led the Royals defensively with eight chances in the field.
But after controlling most of the afternoon, the Royals watched momentum disappear in one inning.
Wyoming Seminary only needed seven minutes of chaos to change its season.
Now the Blue Knights are headed to the district championship
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