The past decade has not been easy for the proud baseball program at Chambersburg, but with win after win, the Trojans have been turning doubters into believers this spring.
First Chambersburg put a winning product back on the field and competed for a title in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division, then the Trojans made a deep run to the championship game at the District 3-6A Championships. It all led to a trip on Monday to the PIAA Championships, where coach Scott Folmar’s boys delivered the program’s first win at states since 2004, when Chambersburg won the last of its three state titles with a victory over Peters Township.
The Trojans are now three wins away from a fourth state title, but quarterfinals opponent Butler poses a major threat to put an end to Chambersburg’s dream season.
We’ve selected this win-or-go-home contest as our Game of the Week.
If any team can relate to the Trojans’ long drought from states, it’s the Golden Tornado. Butler, led by the play of the son of a long-time MLB pitcher, is back in the PIAA postseason for the first time since 1992. The Golden Tornado can crush the ball, and they have a pitching staff that can shut down any offense.
Something’s got to give.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Game of the Week. Any big upcoming contests we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
PIAA Class 6A Quarterfinals
Chambersburg vs. Butler
First pitch: Thursday, 4 p.m., at Mount Aloysius University
Records: The Trojans are 18-7, while the Golden Tornado checks in with a 20-3 record.
Last game: Chambersburg posted a 5-0 shutout over Downingtown West, while Butler advanced past the first round with a 2-1 win over Mifflin County.
What’s at stake: The winner advances to the state semifinals to take on either District 3 champion Muhlenberg or District 1 runner-up Owen J. Roberts. The season is over for the loser.
Meet the Trojans: Chambersburg is enjoying the tail end of its first winning season since 2018 … The Trojans have a proud history and won three state championships under the legendary 51-year tenure of Bob Thomas, who retired after 2015, which also happens to be the last time Chambersburg made it to states … The Trojans, now playing for Scott Folmar, have gotten the job done with pitching and defense this season … Chambersburg advanced past the first round of states on Monday thanks to another gem from ace pitcher Ryne Mills (10 wins, 1.25 ERA), who fired 6 2/3 innings shutout innings … Mills won’t be available to pitch in the Butler game, but the door is open four other pitchers, with Brady Truett most likely to get the ball … Truett has struck out 26 batters over 35 1/3 innings and owns four wins and a 1.19 ERA … Hayden Lyons (2 wins, 5.25 ERA, 19 strikeouts) and Devon Nalewak (2 wins, 3.55 ERA, 16 strikeouts) could see mound time, and the same can be said for Cam Wadel (3.23 ERA, 10 strikeouts) … Two batters in the Chambersburg lineup, Brady Truett and Ceagan Truett, are batting over .300 this season … Brady Truett is hitting .379 (25 for 66) with 11 runs, 16 RBI, four doubles, and two home runs, while Ceagan Truett is batting at a .302 clip (26 for 86) with 12 runs, eight RBI, and five doubles … Mills, batting .277 (23 for 83), leads the Trojans in runs scored (21), while adding 15 RBI, five doubles, three triples, two home runs, and three stolen bases … Aiden Appleby (.271, 11 runs, 10 RBI, 6 doubles) brings a solid bat to the lineup, while Bryce Deneen (.237), Aaron Vasquez (.237, 16 runs, 13 RBI), Nalewak (.229, 9 runs), Brycen Murray (.194, 11 runs), and Konner McMullen (.157, 11 runs) all have the ability to make an impact on the game.
Meet the Golden Tornado: Butler is back in the state tournament for the first time since 1992, and now that the squad has advanced past the first round, coach Josh Forbes’ boys are just one win away from matching their best playoff run in school history … It’s already been a historical season for the Golden Tornado, won recently captured the program’s first WPIAL title … Butler is guided by the leadership of catcher Mavrick Clement, a Pitt commit and son of Matt Clement, a nine-year MLB veteran who pitched for four teams, most notably the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox … It was the elder Clement who, as a third baseman, fueled the Golden Tornado run to the PIAA semifinals in 1992 … The younger Clement is batting .288 (15 for 52) with 11 extra-base hits, and more importantly, has been a battery mate for a pitching staff that owns a 0.59 ERA and has struck out 179 batters over 130 innings … Pitching ace Kyle Casteel (6 wins, 0.15 ERA, 69 strikeouts) will be unavailable after working seven innings on Monday, so look for Butler to give the ball to Nolan Stefaniak, another strikeout assassin. Stefaniak has punched out 63 batters over 40 2/3 innings and owns six wins and a 0.34 ERA … The Golden Tornado have two other reliable pitchers in Ryan Rattigan (0.00 ERA, 24 strikeouts) and Blake Scott (2.56 ERA, 13 strikeouts) … Stefaniak leads Butler’s power-packed offense with a .380 average (.19 for 50) and is one of six Golden Tornado players to lift off for a home run this spring … Trent Best (.367, 14 runs, 13 RBI) and Jacob Szbalskie (.340, 11 runs) have both provided stable bats in the lineup, while Blake Scott (.283, 2 home runs) leads Butler with 14 RBI … Karstyn Lenyk (.244, 9 stolen bases) is a threat on the basepaths, while Boden Lenyk (.237, 15 runs) has showcased some power with seven extra-base hits … Rattigan (.206) and Nash Cuffman (.174) are also regulars for the Golden Tornado.
Sandrik’s pick: Golden Tornado by 2.
