(cover photo of Toby Myers via James Quinn)

LEVITTOWN, PA – The Lower Merion Aces, riding high after an 8-2 win over Conestoga, head to Pennsbury High School to face the Falcons in the second round of the PIAA District 1 6A playoffs. 

The 12th-seed Aces (13-7 overall) face a tough test against the 5th-seeded Falcons (14-5-1), who are fresh off a first-round bye. The winner advances to the quarterfinals to meet the victor of #4 Coatesville vs. #13 Quakertown.

Lower Merion’s first-round rout of Conestoga showcased their offensive depth and pitching dominance. Junior Brain Heck threw a complete game with ten strikeouts, while Toby Myers powered the offense with a three-run homerun and a two-RBI single. This marks the Aces’ second trip to the round of 16 in three years after they took down Neshaminy in 2023.

Pennsbury, the SOL Patriot Champions with an 11-4 league record, rested after their bye. The Falcons had a strong 2024, but lost in the first round of districts at home to Boyertown. Their deep lineup and pitching make them a formidable force at home this time around. 

With both teams’ pitching staffs rested, even though the game was moved up from Wednesday due to the expected weather, Lower Merion will likely turn to the bullpen early, as their ace, Brian Heck, threw a complete game yesterday. The Aces’ strategy of avoiding giving opponents multiple looks at the same pitcher could see Justin Heck and Will Cohen take the mound, both wielding low to mid-80s fastballs with sharp breaking pitches to challenge Penssbury’s potent bats. Offensively, Toby Myers and Gus Wright are Lower Merion’s spark plugs, with Myers’ power and Wright’s speed igniting rallies.

Brody Slensky is also a name to watch in the order, as well as Calvin Rendle.

Pennsbury could start a few different arms, but the thought is that they are expected to start Keller Bradley, a Vanderbilt recruit. We could also see sophomore left-hander Pierce Perry, whose mid-80s fastball and 70-mph curve can keep the Aces’ aggressive hitters off balance.

Senior Mason Keith (East Stroudsburg commit) or seniors Joe Beitler (Penn State Harrisburg commit) and Ryan Paolella (Penn State Altoona commit) could see relief duty, with Keith’s mid-80s fastball, curve, slider, and change-up offering versatility. The Falcons’ offense is led by seniors Evan Wawkes (Swarthmore commit), Dylan Hirsh (Bloomsburg commit), and Ryan Webber (Army commit), whose mix of power and discipline will test Lower Merion’s defense.

Lower Merion’s game plan is to leverage their hot bats and aggressive baserunning to disrupt Perry early, while their bullpen aims to keep Pennsbury’s hitting guessing. The Falcons will look to work counts against the Aces’ relief arms and capitalize on their home-field energy, with Hawkes, Hirsh, and Webber driving the offense. Execution will be critical in this high-stakes matchup.

Pennsbury’s strong season, bye, and deep roster give them a slight edge, but Lower Merion’s strong pitching and offensive momentum make them a dangerous underdog. First pitch is at 4 PM at Pennsbury– expect a packed crowd and a fierce battle.