Forest Hills ended Tyrone’s playoff run with a 6-1 victory in a muddy, hard-fought District 6 Class 3A semifinal on Saturday, May 24th at Sidman.
The win sends the top-seeded Rangers (now 14-5) to the championship game against Huntingdon, while the fourth-seeded Eagles (15-6) conclude their spirited postseason journey.
Tyrone had upset Forest Hills in back-to-back playoff openers in 2022 and 2023, but this time the Rangers flipped the script, powered by relentless offense and a masterclass pitching performance from sidearm lefty Chase Williamson.
Williamson struck out nine and allowed just four hits in a complete-game gem, relying heavily on a well-located running fastball that was hard to pick up on to keep the Eagles off balance.
“Their speed kind of got us a little bit. We really haven’t seen that type of speed at all this year,” Tyrone coach Kevin Soellner told the Altoona Mirror. “We knew what we were facing, and that’s a good team we played. I thought we had a chance, especially when we got going in the second (inning), but left a couple guys on and couldn’t really get anything afterward. We had a good year, and it’s tough, because I thought we were peaking at the right time.”
The Eagles struck first in the top of the second inning, executing an intentional run down to allow Tyrone’s Owen Oakes to steal home.
The run began with an Oakes single. He then advanced to third on a Connor McClure single and sprinted home on the intentional rundown play, capitalizing on a Rangers infield miscue.
Tyrone also threatened to score in the first and third innings, stranding runners at third base both times, but could not convert those chances into runs.
Forest Hills tied the game in the third after Nate Cornell’s two-out double set up an RBI single from Bryce Roberts, caused by a dropped popup in the infield.
The momentum swung decisively in the fifth, when the Rangers’ 7-8-9 hitters sparked a four-run rally, highlighted by a bases-loaded walk to Jake Yatsky and consecutive RBI singles from Gage Ruddek and Kolbie Smiach.
The contest, originally scheduled for May 23rd, was pushed back a day due to rain, leaving the outfield muddy and slow. Both teams struggled to adjust, with Forest Hills committing two errors that gave the Eagles extra baserunners, but Tyrone was unable to capitalize.
A key moment came when Landon Hamer, hustling out of the box on a dropped popup, advanced to third base, but was ultimately stranded.
Hamer finished his outstanding career with 99 hits, just one hit shy of joining teammate Ashton Walk in the Eagles’ 100-hit club for the recorded stats era.
“I’m just super glad I was able to experience a season with these guys,” said senior catcher Landon Hamer, “It may have been cut short, but it will never be forgotten.”
The Eagles, who entered the semifinals on a six-game winning streak and fresh off a 9-2 win over Philipsburg, will graduate seven seniors and lose four starters, including ace Dylan Ewing.
However, they return all but one pitcher and five position starters, with promising young players like Connor Zupon and Jon Stroup expected to step up.
“This was an unforgettable season,” said junior outfielder Brayden Parsons, “Although we didn’t end the season as planned, a lot was learned, and I have high hopes for us next season.”
“I am very proud of my guys. I know it’s disappointing, but this is a lesson to be learned,” Soellner said. “A couple of these seniors have started for four years, and they’ve been great. All of these guys bought into our hitting approach and got better and better throughout the year. District 6 is just so tough. I think both (Forest Hills) and Huntingdon have a really good chance beyond here. District 6 very well may represent in the state finals.”
Forrest Hills Head Coach, Joe Carpenter, had good things to say about Tyrone after the game.
“Tyrone is such a great program, and we’ve had great teams over the years that couldn’t get past these guys,” Carpenter told the Altoona Mirror. “Coach Soellner does a great job over there. It’s a big deal to beat a team like this.”
One thing that will never be forgotten about this team was the connection they all had with each other, they were brothers and played like it.
“I think the bond this group had as a team was unbreakable and was a major contribution to success,” said sophomore pitcher Carter Price.
This team has been playing ball together for years from coach pitch to this season.
“I’m happy about the group of guys I got to play with throughout all these years,” said senior outfielder Gayge Miller, “I will remember this team forever and all of the memories I’ve made playing with my family.”
Forest Hills advances to face Huntingdon for the District 6 crown, while Tyrone looks to reload for another run next spring, carrying the lessons and pride of a hard-fought season.
BOX SCORE
TYRONE (1): Hamer c 300, B McClure 2b 301, Walk ss 300, Kustenbayder 3b 300, Oakes dh 312, Shirey lf 200, Jones lf 101, C McClure 300, Miller rf 300, Parsons cf 200. Totals — 26 1 4.
FOREST HILLS (6): Williamson p 400, Richardson cf 411, Cornell 3b 333, Roberts ss 312, Yatsky c 201, Ruddek lf 302, Smiach rf 201, Dombrosky 1b 301, Russell dh 200, Beyer dh 100. Totals — 27 6 11.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Tyrone 010 000 0 — 1 4 0
Forest Hills 001 041 X — 6 11 2
E–Custer, Roberts. 2B–Roberts, Cornell. RBIs–Roberts 2, Smiach 2, Yatsky, Ruddek. SAC–Smiach.
Pitching
Forest Hills: Williamson 7IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 9K.
Tyrone: Ewing 3IP, 4H, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 3K. Price 2IP, 5B, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 2K. McClure 1IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 0K.
Records: Forest Hills (14-5); Tyrone (15-6).
