District 1 Class 5A Baseball: Marple Newtown nips W.C. East, makes state tourney

Owen Mathes went 6.2 strong innings Tuesday, leading Marple Newtown to a 3-1 victory over West Chester East in the District 1 Class 5A third-place playback game.

With the win, the Tigers clinched a spot in the upcoming PIAA Class 5A tournament.

Mathes allowed one run on five hits and struck out four while walking just one East batter. Dillon Can recorded the last out for a save.

The Tigers got to East pitcher Matt Holgado (5.1 IP, 2R, 3H) late, with Bennett Cox’s RBI double in the sixth keying a three-run Marple comeback.

Mathes had two hits for the Tigers, Jackson Reed had two for East. It is the sixth straight year the Tigers have made the state tournament.

Marple Newtown pitcher Owen Mathes throws a pitch against Phoenixville during Wednesday’s District 1-5A

playoff game. (Owen McCue – MediaNews Group)