Krevetski leads young York Catholic team past Delone Catholic in quarterfinals

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Despite losing eight of nine starters from last year's team, York Catholic is on the verge of going back to states for the third straight season.

Senior pitcher Jake Krevetski, the only returning starter for the Fighting Irish, led his young team to a 2-1 win against Delone Catholic in Thursday's District 3 AA quarterfinals. York Catholic will face Upper Dauphin in the district semifinals on Tuesday, with the winner guaranteed a trip to states.

"It's been fun seeing new guys and seeing what we can do with a new team," Krevetski said. "It's actually been my best year yet."

After struggling in a 11-1 loss the last time these two teams played, on the same field in late April, Krevetski reminded the Squires why he's the Fighting Irish ace. He threw a complete game, striking out five batters and quickly working through a Delone Catholic lineup that struggled to hit the ball with anything more than light contact.

"We talked about it, throwing the first pitch for a strike, making sure to get the curveball over," York Catholic coach Joe Gurreri said. "Last game we didn't do that against them and today we did. That was the difference, getting the first pitch over and being able to throw the curveball for a strike the whole game."

Krevetski only allowed one run — a base hit by Chase Kint that drove in Michael Rider from second base in the third inning — and that proved to be just enough in a pitcher's duel with Squires senior Hunter Keith, who struck out seven batters and also pitched a complete game.

Krevetski helped himself out with a double to lead off the fourth inning. He scored York Catholic's first run when he scored from second when Keith lost his footing and made an errant throw to first base after fielding a bunt in the fourth inning.

The Fighting Irish then went ahead for good when it attempted a double-steal with runners on first and third in the fifth inning. Immediately after a strikeout, Delone Catholic catcher Austin Roth threw down to second base to try and catch a stealing Dillon Hippensteel. Roth's throw beat Hippensteel to the bag, but was dropped by Evan Haymaker as Andrew Polson sprinted home from third base.

"That was actually my call," Delone Catholic coach Doug Arnold said of Roth throwing down to second base with a runner on third. "We wanted to try and throw him out. If we catch the ball, he's out, and we come back in here to bat. We have a couple different plays. We know Hunter's quick to the plate, and Austin's, I think, the best catcher in the league. We'll (always) take that shot."

The Squires hit leadoff singles in the fifth and sixth innings but couldn't tie the game as their season came to an end. They lose Keith, Roth, Rider and Jimmy O'Boyle, a pitcher and No. 3 hitter who missed much of the season with an injury, to graduation, but Arnold expects to be competitive again next season.

"(We) grew up a lot this year," he said. "We had two freshman in the lineup, a sophomore, and when Jimmy went down halfway through the year and missed the second half, other guys had to step up. We've got to get some pitchers, that's the big thing."

York Catholic 2, Delone 1

York Catholic0001100—251Delone Catholic0010000—161

YC, Jake Krevetski and Frank Skehan, DC, Hunter Keith and Austin Roth.

SO-BB — Krevetski 5-2, Keith 7-2; W — Krevetski; L — Keith; 2B — DC, Austin Kuntz, Krevetski.