Jun 9, 2025
HERSHEY — With its storied baseball past, including hardware from four PIAA crowns, the Mount Union Trojans are considered by many to be “Titletown.” The Trojans (20-4) are two wins away from adding a fifth trophy to their collection.
Standing in Mount Union’s way is sort of the new kid on the block, Faith Christian Academy, who wears the bling as the reigning PIAA Class A champion. The Lions moved up to 2A this year.
The Trojans outlast Tri-Valley 4-3 in 10 innings thanks to senior Georgie Bilger’s game-winning hit. Mount Union forced extra innings by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to erase a 3-1 deficit.
The PIAA semifinal is set for 3 p.m. today at Memorial Field at Hershey High School. In the other bracket, Freedom Area, the District 7 champ, faces Mercyhurst Prep, the winner of District 10, at Slippery Rock’s Jack Crutchfield Park at 2 p.m. Monday.
The PIAA Class 2A Championship is slated for Penn State’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
The Lions had only one goal for the 2025 campaign: To repeat as champions.
Faith Christian (20-2) returns five starters from last year’s championship team. The rest is a mix of a freshman, two sophomores and juniors.
The Lions’ first stop in that direction was capturing the District 1 crown with a 7-0 shellacking of Delaware County Christian. Along with the gold medals and trophy came a coveted berth in the PIAA Tournament.
Starting pitcher Reid Miller, the ace of the Faith Christian staff who earned the win in last year’s state final. went the distance, scattering three hits, walking just one while striking out 13. The senior also had a double in the game.
“It really helps when your ace (Miller) comes back because you give him the ball and you’re guaranteed a win already,” Faith Christian coach Nick Koffel told reporters after winning districts.
Because of personnel changes, the offensive approach is different from last year. In 2024, Faith Christian belted 18 home runs, including 10 by Grayson Weikel.
This year, the team is more athletic. With a starting lineup of players who can run, the team has more than 140 stolen bases and are much more dynamic on the base paths.
Senior Chase Gieser took over at first base after spending last season solely as a pitcher, and sophomore Collin Kim, a transfer from Perkiomen Valley, is the shortstop. Freshman Logan Labs took over as catcher.
Miller and Geiser have been a solid 1-2 punch, much like Mount Union’s seniors Davin Yocum and Cody McClain. The Lions’ senior duo have each lost only one decision and sport miniscule earned run averages.
Much like Mount Union’s tussle with Tri-Valley that went extra innings, Faith Christian scored eight runs in the ninth en route to an 11-4 win over South Williamsport.
Offensively, freshman Logan Labs went 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. Miller was 2-for-4 with a home run, RBI and Brandon Labs had a 1-for-5 day with 2 RBIs.
The Trojans have put up some hefty offensive numbers all season, scoring 189 runs in 25 games for a 7.56 average. Sophomore Jamon Ranck leads Mount Union with 27 RBIs, while senior Dylan Shawver has 25 RBIs and junior Abe Weirich added 21 RBIs.
As a team, the Trojans are hitting .425 with a .516 on-base percentage and .442 slugging percentage. Mount Union has outscored opponents 189-73 this season.
Five Trojans are batting better than .300 as senior Julian Weirich leads the way at .412, with Ranck at .378, Shawver at .376, Levi Hunsinger at .333 and Abe Weirich at .317.
Ranck is Mount Union’s top power hitter with six home runs, with Abe Weirich second with three. The Trojans have only hit 14 homers all season.
On the mound, Yocum is 10-3 with an 1.77 ERA, striking out a team-high 53 batters and walking 17 in 83 innings. McClain is 7-1 and has pitched 44 innings, with an ERA of 5.25, 47 strikeouts and 22 walks.
The Trojans’ Maddox Hobbs, the No. 9 hitter, led Mount Union with two hits against Tri-Valley.
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