Parkland High School Baseball

From the Morning Call 5/14/2009. 

Casey Cooperman wasn't even sure he was going to pitch.  Now, his team is heading to the Lehigh Valley Conference championship game.  The Parkland junior tossed a complete game in an 8-4 victory over Liberty at Sammy Balliet Stadium in Coplay on Wednesday to send the No. 3-seeded Trojans into the finals.

Parkland will meet Emmaus, a 4-3 winner over Northampton, in the 7 p.m. final today at Balliet Stadium.  Parkland coach Tony Galucy wasn't sure Cooperman would be his starter, but felt confident going with him.  'We felt that Coop had pitched well his last few times out and it was his turn (in the rotation)' said Galucy. 'If we are going to go anywhere in the playoffs we are going to need more than one pitcher. He did a great job for us today.'

Cooperman allowed five hits and struck out nine. The only damage done against him was a game-tying three-run home run by Liberty's Scott Kalamar in the fourth inning.  Parkland squandered several opportunities early but rallied late, scoring its final five runs in the sixth inning.  'We capitalized late,' Galucy said. 'We cannot let teams off the hook like that tomorrow. In these games we've got to get the run in.'  The loss ends Liberty's seven-game winning streak.

Parkland will meet top-seeded Emmaus, which defeated Northampton 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Emmaus senior John Barr drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the winning run.  Emmaus took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Northampton, but fell behind 3-1 after the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, the Hornets made their comeback charge.  Brandon Wilt and Kyle Gable hit back-to-back doubles. Dan Johnson followed with a single to score Gable and even the score. It would stay that way until the bottom of the seventh.  Northampton pitcher Mike Glassic gave up a leadoff triple to Wilt Glassic, intentionally walked the next two batters in order to set up a force play, but walked in Barr to end the game.  'That was how playoff baseball is supposed to be,' Emmaus coach John Schreiner said. 'We're going to have our hands full with Parkland tomorrow.'

The LVC final is scheduled for at 7 p.m. at Sammy Balliet Stadium.
Parkland 100 205 0 – 8 13 1
Liberty 000 310 0 – 4 5 2

Cooperman and Gabriel; Dwyer, Ortiz(6) and Lule 2B: P Abeln, Miorelli, Tenaglia HR: P: Abeln 1st, 0 on; L: Kalamar 4th, 2 on