BERWYN, PA – Both Conestoga and Upper Darby entered this game looking to end Central League play on a high note, and Conestoga got it done playing at home. With the win, it appears that Conestoga will be heading to the postseason for the first time since 2021.

Sophomore Luke Hunter toed the mound for the Pioneers. The 6’6’’ righty would go five innings, striking out eight, allowing one hit and one run.

That one hit set Upper Darby up to get on the board first. Albert MacMichael tripled and scored later that inning when he stole home on an errant throw on a stolen base attempt at second.

The Royals held that lead until the bottom of the fourth, when Conestoga’s Chase Cherny singled and advanced on a passed ball to bring him to second. An error by the Upper Darby defense would allow him to score after he attempted to steal third.

Conestoga would add more run support in the fifth when Josh Lee scored on Penn State Harrisburg commit James Quici’s double, one of three hits on the day, and Quici scored on another Upper Darby error.

Patrick Callahan got the start for the Royals, and his five innings of solid work with three strikeouts kept Upper Darby in the game for most of it.

However, the Pioneers’ offense spread the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth. After York College commit Chase Ranatanen and senior Aidan Bakker reached on an error and a hit by pitch, respectively, Angelo Bertolotti doubled to left field. Rantanen scored, and Bakker was left at third. After a punchout, JP Tinneny singled to score them both, and he would score on a Tim Regan sacrifice fly following a stolen base and a wild pitch.

Neumann commit Max Brown threw the final two innings for Conestoga, allowing zero runs, hits, and walks in only nineteen pitches with an impressive 84% strike clip. Brown forced a popout to end the game, giving us a final score of Conestoga: 7, Upper Darby: 1.

With that, the 2025 Upper Darby’s (1-15) baseball season is over. Look for some young guys to step up next year, as the Royals are graduating ten seniors.

This final Central League win for Conestoga (9-7) appears to have been just what the Pioneers needed to remain among the top 24 teams in the PIAA District 1 6A pool and hopefully earn a playoff spot. The rankings formula is a bit complex, but if nothing changes, Conestoga would be the #22 seed and travel to #11 Avon Grove in the first round.