Parlaying 11 hits into valuable run support proved difficult for Shippensburg on Thursday. The Hounds rang up that gaudy total on Joey Prego, but that hardly derailed the West York pitcher at Northern HS.
Backed up by pinch-runner Sam Eyler's steal of home and RBI singles by Chase James and Brandon Kinneman, the Bulldogs claimed a hard-fought 5-3 decision over Shippensburg in District 3-AAA quarterfinal action.
James and teammate Carson Fries topped West York's multiple hit list, sending the Bulldogs (16-7) to Tuesday's semifinal scrape with 13th-seeded Greencastle-Antrim. The semifinal site and time will be announced on Friday.
Eyler's theft seemed to kickstart West York in the fourth. And James' ensuing RBI was among four hits attached to Shippensburg starter Andrew Koser.
The latter did not record a strikeout before handing off to Cordell Shannon in the fifth. Koser, catcher Brady Barnhart and Justin Pyne collected two hits apiece in the loss.
Lewis Cameron's two-run triple gave the Hounds (12-10) a glimmer of hope before Prego got Barnhart to fly out for the final out.
Epler on Twitter: @threejacker