Jun 6, 2022 2 min read

EPHRATA — Coy Schwanger hit a two-out, two-run homer in the third inning and Ephrata followed with seven runs in the fourth to rally and defeat Peters Township 9-7 in first round of the PIAA Class 5A baseball playoffs Monday at War Memorial Field.

Peters Township (21-3), which ended its season with losses in the WPIAL championship and state tournament opener, forged a 4-0 lead before Ephrata (20-8), the District 3 runner-up, mounted a charge and grabbed a five-run lead.

The Idnians battled back and closed to wothin 9-7 by scoring three times in the sixth but had that inning cut short by a runner being thrown out at home plate.

The day started well for PT as Drew Ripepi, the Indians’ leadoff hitter, smacked the first pitch of the game over the fence in left field for a home run. The Indians, who outhit Ephrata 14-10, had two more singles in the inning and two throwing errors allowed a second PT run to score.

The Indians made it 4-0 in the third inning when Jack Kail singled and Sam Miller belted his eighth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left centerfield.

Schwanger’s two-run homer in the bottom fo the third off PT starter Wes Parker cut the Indians’ lead in half to 4-2.

In the bottom of the fourth,