What goes around, comes around.

Parkland picked up a run in its baseball semifinal game against Liberty when the Hurricanes defense had a bit of a meltdown that resulted in home plate being wide open for Michael Cole to alertly race home for a run in the fourth inning. Unfortunately, the roles were reversed in the bottom of the seventh and an unprotected plate was there for the taking as Liberty catcher Reece D’Amico scored the winning run to end the season for the Trojans with a 5-4 loss in the district semifinals.

Both teams struck early with the Trojans getting a first-inning run on a couple of singles and a ground ball by Luke Meehan that brought home Jesse Ruisch, who led off the game with a single to left, to put Parkland up 1-0. When Liberty stepped to the plate, Braylen Gonzalez worked a leadoff walk and went to second on a base hit by D’Amico. From there, Gonzalez stole third and scored on a wild pitch. Liberty went on to get two more runs in the inning when Noah Gyauch-Quirk doubled with runners on first and second, putting the Hurricanes up 3-1.

Parkland continued to keep pressure on Liberty starter Jacob Rivera and punched through a couple of runs in the third.

Andrew Keller led off with a single and Blake Barthol followed with a walk, giving Parkland two base runners with no outs. Meehan dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt and Sean Superka delivered a two-run single, knotting the game at 3-3 before Rivera ended the rally with two strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Liberty was having a problem figuring out Parkland starter Owen DeLong. From the second through fifth innings, the only runners Liberty put on base came by walks, hit batters or a fielder’s choice.

To add to the frustration, Parkland put up a go-ahead run in the fourth, thanks in part to a leadoff walk to Michael Cole, who came around to score by way of a sacrifice, an infield single by Keller and the defensive miscue by Liberty that gave Parkland a 4-3 advantage.

“He threw the other day and was on three days rest and the plan along was to try to get five out of him and then Blake [Barthol] would throw those sixth and seventh innings because he has been really good for us in that role,” said Parkland head coach Kurt Weber.

With the first part of the plan having worked, Weber went to Barthol, looking to the senior to lock up the win over the final two innings.

The fact that the weather had turned hot and humid made the plan look even better to give Parkland a fresher arm on the mound late in the game. Liberty had other plans and Gyauch-Quirk picked up a one-out single against Barthol and promptly stole second. An out and a walk later, Tommy Mason tied the game with a single to left, bringing home Gyauch-Quirk.

The bottom of the seventh opened with J.C. Spinosa getting hit by a pitch. With a great move to first, Barthol picked off Spinosa to empty the bags.

D’Amico grounded a ball to third that was misplayed, allowing him to reach base and Liberty added a runner when Hayden O’Neill worked a walk. With two runners on and one out, Ayden Zabala bounced a ball to the first base side of the diamond between the mound and the plate and when both the pitcher and catcher went to make the play, D’Amico turned in his heroics, dashing home from second on the groundout.

“It was ironic,” said Weber of the play that ended the game. “We got one that way, they got one that way, but overall, it was just a good game. They beat us three times though, so they deserve to go on.

“We always have talent, but we will miss the guys who are going to be moving on. A lot of these guys were three-year players, and the personal side is harder than anything because a lot of times you just don’t get to see them from this point on.”

Liberty advanced to the finals against Emmaus and both teams will also have spots set aside for them in the PIAA tournament that opens next week.