DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Zack Neill of Montoursville connects on a game-winning single against Loyalsock during an earlier game.

Class AAAA State Semifinals

Montoursville (19-4) vs. Holy Ghost Prep (15-9) at Blue Mountain High School, 4 p.m.

Montoursville road to Final 4: In District 4, beat Athens, 9-3; In states, beat Wyoming Area, 11-1 and Boiling Springs, 4-2

Montoursville notes: Today’s match-up features the last two Eastern Region champions with Holy Ghost Prep winning the crown last year and Montoursville doing so last year. It also is the third consecutive District 1 vs. District 4 battle with Holy Ghost edging Danville two years ago and the Warriors blanking Pope John II last season. Montoursville is making its second straight Final 4 appearance and its third since 2018. The Warriors repeated as district champions, winning their fifth crown in eight seasons. Today’s likely starter, Logan Kirby, threw a two-hitter in the six-inning first round win against Wyoming Area, striking out seven and allowing no earned runs. He is 8-0 this season with a 0.76 ERA. Elijah Eck, Gabe Moser and Zack Neill combined on a six-hitter in the quarterfinals with Neill throwing 3 2/3 hitless innings in relief. He has won three games since the Backyard Brawl in relief. Every starter reached base in the opening round against Wyoming Area and Brody Aldenderfer hit a two-run double to put Montoursville up, 3-0 against Boiling Springs. Carson Menne has four hits in two state playoff games and he and Eck ignited that second inning rally which Aldenderfer highlighted. Noah Kirby hit an RBI double to spark Montoursville early against Wyoming Area and Austin Davidson drove in two runs. Jonah Heddings homered against Athens and Montoursville produced 11 hits in both that victory as well as the state tournament first round win.

Holy Ghost road to Final 4: In District 1, beat Springfield-Township, 8-1 and Pope John II, 8-0; In states, beat Northwestern Lehigh, 12-0 and Mid-Valley, 6-2

Holy Ghost notes: The Firebirds are attempting to win their second state title in three years after winning in walk-of fashion, 6-5, two years ago against Indiana. Pope John II defeated Holy Ghost Prep, 4-2, a year ago, denying it another shot at states. Like Montoursville, Holy Ghost has peaked at the perfect time, winning six straight games and nine of its last 10. The Firebirds started strong against Mid-Valley, building a 5-0 third inning lead before the Spartans pulled within three in the sixth. This is a senior-laden team which has played together throughout high school. That includes pitchers Bam McNabb, Matt Riendeau and Christopher Schanuffer who combined on a five-hitter against Mid-Valley. McNabb will play at Wagner next season and, although stats are incomplete on maxpreps, allowed 10 hits in 19 innings with 23 strikeouts in the numbers posted there. He took the loss in last year’s district final against Pope John II. Riendeau was at 10 hits in 18 1/3 innings with 17 strikeouts and Schnauffer 11 hits and 11 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings. Tyler Bergkoetter went 4 for 4 with two RBIs against Mid-Valley and was hitting .562 in the numbers posted, while Eddie Rosado was at .444 with four home runs, five doubles and 16 RBIs in 11 games. Seven players combined for 11 hits against Mid-Valley. Matt Evans was 3 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs against Northwestern Lehigh and Rosado 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs.

Winner plays: Indiana or Archbishop Wood