Penn State DuBois Recaptures PSUAC Baseball Championship
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State DuBois claimed the 2023 PSUAC Baseball title on Monday, beating Penn State York 6-1 in the championship game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on the University Park campus.
After a one year hiatus, DuBois will travel home with the trophy that spent four of the past five years on the I-80 corridor of central Pennsylvania. DuBois outhit York 10-4 and capitalized on three York errors to eliminate the chances of an if necessary game.
Connor Cherry pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up just one run and scattering four hits. York put pressure on him in the sixth, and DuBois would use three more pitchers to close it out with Jeff Romano putting the finishing touches on with two runners on in the seventh.
Cherry's teammates at the top of the lineup were dangerous all afternoon, with Colby Bodtorf collecting three hits and scoring three times from the leadoff spot. Right behind him was Brett Beith with two hits, including a monster two-run homer. Brandon Sicheri and Tyler Yough finished with two hits apiece for the champions.
Ryan Schubert picked up York's lone RBI of the championship game with a single in the sixth.
DuBois began their title run in 2018, winning back-to-back titles before the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID. But the Lions picked up where they left off in 2021 with another championship before Penn State Mont Alto dethroned them in 2022.
DuBois, who already had a guaranteed berth as an at-large team in the USCAA Small College World Series, earns the PSUAC's automatic bid to the 10-team tournament. The USCAA National Championship will be held in DuBois, Pa. from May 14-18. Mont Alto also earned an at-large bid after a strong 2023 campaign.
LOSER'S BRACKET FINAL
Penn State York vs. Penn State Brandywine
York advanced into the double-elimination portion of the tournament for the first time in program history. Todd Meckley's team ousted Penn State Schuylkill in the opening round of the tournament, then lost to Penn State Brandywine last weekend in the opening portion of the double-elimination bracket. York then upset the defending champs on Sunday at Medlar Field with a 4-2 win before the rain suspended the rest of play for the day. When they returned to action Monday morning with a rematch against Brandywine, York's bats caught fire in the middle innings.
The runners-up put up an eight spot in the fifth inning against Brandywine in the loser's bracket final, ultimately winning 12-2 to advance to the championship against DuBois. York would have needed to win twice over DuBois to take the title. Jason Williams had three hits against Brandywine, and Schubert added three RBIs. Cole Sinnott pitched five innings, striking out four. Camden Flinchbaugh closed it out and sent York to the title game with two innings of shutout ball.