The 2024 regular season was a tough one to navigate, with things happening out of the control of the Parkland High School baseball team. Things like injuries and weather causing havoc to the schedule. Head coach Kurt Weber still feels his team dealt with what it could and is positioned strong for a postseason run. “This year was one of the most challenging I can remember,” said Weber. “Weather and injuries impacted the season. Baseball players like routine and rhythm and we struggled to get either of those. As a result, I thought we were more inconsistent than we would like. “But at times we showed the potential to be a good team. We had quality wins over playoff caliber teams and nonconference wins over state playoff teams like Hazleton and Wilson West Lawn.” In its latest game, the Trojan offense stepped up in a big way and scored a season-high 15 runs in downing Nazareth 15-6 last Sunday afternoon at DeSales University in the District 11 Class 6A semifinals. “We knew the match up with Nazareth was going to be more offensive than a defensive battle,” Weber said. “We felt it was important to keep adding runs. I thought we had some clutch hits, and we kept answering back when Nazareth scored. “Number one we need to throw strikes. When we struggled in games that’s been a common factor. If we throw strikes, we give ourselves a chance. Then we need an offense that applies the pressure. Limit strikeouts and the flyouts...and we can be tough. As well as we produced against Nazareth, we still had too many fly balls.” Parkland went on top from the get-go, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Andrew Klotz and Brody Morabito started with a walk and single, respectively. Louis Inserra opened the scoring with an RBI single. Landen Benner drove another run home with a hit, and an errant throw allowed one more to score, pushing the advantage to 3-0. The Trojans had a scoreless second, but brought home at least a run in every inning the rest of the way, including a five-run top of the seventh that put the game out of reach. The offense had 16 hits, led by three from Benner, who also recorded two RBIs and scored a run. Klotz, Inserra, Mack Parsell and Gavin Mohry all finished with two hits. Every starter in the lineup had at least one hit. Ben Weninger started on the mound and earned the victory. “With our program we want to be playing for championships every year,” said Weber. “Division, league, districts and state. I think this year is very satisfying because I think some may have written us off a couple different times during the year.” The No. 3 seed Trojans got to the semifinal with a 4-3 extra-innings win over No. 6 Freedom in the quarterfinal round. The Patriots scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game. Parkland won the game in the ninth when Klotz led off the inning with a single and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Will Dobil’s line-drive single to center field brought Klotz in to end the game. Winninger, Klotz and Dobil all had two hits each in the win over the Patriots, with Dobil knocking in two runs and Klotz scoring twice in the game. Nate Bartholomew pitched 6 2/3 innings against Freedom and allowed four hits. Michael Kohler pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and no runs. Parkland, which improved its record to 17-6 overall, advanced to the district final Wednesday night against top seed and defending district champ Liberty. See next week’s Press for more about the title game.