La Salle set for AAAA title game Friday

Ted Silary
Posted: June 15, 2012

Does La Salle High still have the first-time, major-sports magic touch?

We'll find out Friday afternoon.

This is school year No. 4 for the Catholic League's involvement in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and La Salle's — 1 p.m. for Class AAAA honors vs. Council Rock South at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park — will be the first baseball team to compete in a championship game.

Historical context? Ah, here we go?…

In the fall of 2009, La Salle became the first CL squad to advance to a football final. The experience went handsomely, thank you, as the Explorers rolled to a 24-7 win over State College.

In snow at Hersheypark Stadium, Mike Bennett booted a 37-yard field goal while Jamal Abdur-Rahman, Tim Wade and Sam Feleccia posted rushing touchdonws.

One of the kick returners that season was a kid named Ryan Otis. Know where you can find him now? In centerfield! That's right, the Bucknell-bound Otis is a baseball starter and the lineup spot he occupies is leadoff.

Last fall, an injury prevented Otis from making much of a contribution as La Salle marched to a state football semifinal. Mike Piscopo was a star linebacker, though, and he starts for the diamond squad at third base.

One side tidbit: CR South's principal is Al Funk. He was a member of the first baseball team coached at La Salle in 1986 by Joe Pariri, who's still in charge, and he started at first base in '87 for a playoff squad. n

— Ted Silary

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