BleacherCoaches.com

NB's Baseball Team is peaking at the right time and got a good pitching performance tonight (at least the first six innings) from Kellen Stiffler for a 7-4 win over Portage.

NB will now face 17-5 Christopher Dock Mennonite H.S. from Lansdale, PA and the District One Champs and defending State Champs on Thursday.

Dock features righty Greg Folgia who will take his 90 mph fastball to the University of Missouri on a scholarship next year.

The Pioneers also features power hitting Third baseman Tim Sutcliffe and returns 3 other starters from their state championship squad. Several of CDM's players also played on their state championship Soccer team this past fall.

No word on how many innings Folgia pitched tonight in Dock's 4-0 win over Greenwood (if any). Folgia can also hit as he hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 7th to win the District 1 Championship for his squad.
The Panther bats have been on fire as of late and I'm sure they will be up to the challenge.

John Love will probably get the nod for NB. Site and Time are TBA but best guesses at this point are:

1. Hershey High Schools Memorial Field
2. Northern York H.S. in Dillsburg
3. Manheim Twp. or Wegner Field at Northern Lebanon H.S.

Congrats NBC keep it rollin. Way to represent D5 and the SHL

I found this article that makes it look like NBC will see their big time ace.

The Pioneers opponent‚ Greenwood‚ finished sixth in the ten-team Tri-Valley league‚ but that was against teams in AA and AAA and earned a state bid by reaching the District Three title game‚ falling to Mount Calvary 1-0. Along the way it knocked off Reading Central Catholic‚ who was state semifinalist last year‚ in the previous round.

“You just can't take anybody lightly‚” coach Bill Sigmans said.

Eli Detweiler will be on the mound for Dock‚ as Sigmans looks to hold off using ace Greg Folgia for the next round.

“He's there if we need him‚ hopefully we don't need him‚” said Sigmans of Folgia.

The game will also see the return of Brandon Kiser to the lineup. The sophomore had been out for most of the year with a separated shoulder.


More on Folgia:
Last year his ERA was .72

This year he has had scouts from the Yankees, etc watching him play. His average is over .600 in the .650 range.

http://groups.msn.com/SimmonsField/recr ... 8732432449

NB will have its hands full with the game with CD. Having seen NB play this year and CD, the pitcher for CD will be an issue. Folgia is an intense pitcher who delivers the ball in the high 80's to an occassional low 90's. He is not that tall but can bring it. He has a very good breaking ball and understands the mental game of pitching, including when to throw pitches. NB has some good sticks but they could be neutralized. NB may have to play "small ball" or do whatever it takes to score runs. Folgia is going to the University of Missouri, but not for pitching. He was recruited for his hitting and will be an middle infielder (2nd). He has a very quick bat that should be avoided if possible. The people behind him Detweiler / Suncliffe are good sticks. Houseal will bunt to do whatever to get on. Folgia hits the ball with authority. He was a one man wrecking crew getting CD into the state championship and winning the title in 2005. That same trend is continuing in 2006. His bat and getting him out of rhythm on the mound will be a necessity if NB is going to win. Good luck to NB, it would be nice to see them pull it off.

NBC lost 14-1 to C.Dock yesterday. C.Dock looks like they could make another run at the title this year. Folgia was tough. Congrats again to Northern for winning the D5 title and advancing past the first round in playoffs.