DuBOIS, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Coy Martino admitted it.
The junior right-hander on the Punxsutawney baseball team was a little surprised to draw the start on the mound in the District 9 Class 3A championship game against rival Brookville on Monday evening at Showers Field.
“I was really honored to get the start in this game,” Martino said. “It upped my confidence.”
With his name penciled in on the lineup card to get the ball, Martino was determined to prove the coaching staff’s faith in him was well placed.
(Pictured above, Coy Martino/submitted photo)
Martino earned the win, going 4⅓ innings, giving up just one unearned run on two hits and striking out six, as Punxsutawney rolled to an 11-1, five-inning win over the Raiders to win the district title again.
Martino also helped himself at the plate, going 3 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs in the victory.
“I felt good in the cage before we left for DuBois,” Martino said. “In the bullpen warming up before the game, I felt great. I felt great all around.”
Punxsutawney (14-3) wasted little time getting going against Brookville, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The Raiders scored their lone run in the top of the second, and the Chucks responded with two more in the bottom of the frame on the home run by Martino for a 6-1 lead.
Two more runs in the bottom of the fourth made it 8-1 and Nevin Day’s single with one out in the bottom of the fifth capped a three-run outburst and triggered the mercy rule.
Punxsy had nine hits in the game. Maddox Hetrick went 2 for 3 and scored twice, and Parker Stahlman had a single and two RBIs.
“The way we hit today is a big confidence boost for us,” Martino said.
The common perception around the Chucks this season was they would likely take a step back.
After all, the team lost a slew of key seniors who helped them win the D9 title and advance all the way to the PIAA quarterfinals, where they lost to eventual state champ Riverside, last year.
But Punxsutawney picked up right where it left off a season ago, marching into the district final this year with a 13-3 record and a lot of momentum with a young and hungry roster.
“It feels great,” Martino said. “Definitely didn’t expect to have as good of season as we did last year, but we all stepped up.”
Especially the pitching.
With Stahlman, Day and Martino leading the way, Punxsy has posted a 1.89 ERA.
Shahlman’s ERA is 0.75; Day is at 1.05 and Martino’s is at 2.44. All have started games, and all have worked out of the pen.
“We have three guys who can start or come in in relief,” Martino said. “It doesn’t matter to me. Whatever I have to do to help the team, I’ll do.”
Punxsutawney will have some time to celebrate. The Chucks will take on the District 5 champion in a subregional game at Showers Field on May 28 with a spot in the PIAA playoffs on the line.
For now, Martino and Punxsy will relish this title.
“It feels great,” Martino said. “We’ve really worked hard for this.”
