AAABA 2026 | PHOTO GALLERY | Brody Roberts ignites Mainline Pharmacy hit parade in quarterfinal win over Altoona
· Yahoo Sports
Shortstop Brody Roberts fills the leadoff spot in the Johnstown Mainline Pharmacy batting order – a role the Pitt-Johnstown product takes very seriously.
His 4-for-4 showing in Thursday’s AAABA Tournament quarterfinal game against Altoona-1 Imler’s Poultry illustrated as much.
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Roberts doubled, scored twice and drove in a run to pace Johnstown’s 17-hit outburst in a 12-2, seven-inning victory over Altoona-1 in front of 1,872 fans at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point.
“Baseball is a momentum game,” said Roberts, last year’s AAABA Tournament MVP on Mainline Pharmacy’s championship squad. “When you get it going, hitting is contagious. You can see it.
“When we get fired up, we play better.
“When we get a little bit down, we have to find a way to get fired up. When you get that extra boost, it’s a lot more fun.”
Mainline Pharmacy is batting .366 (49-for-134) in four tournament victories with 14 extra-base hits.
Manager Chance Osborne’s team will play Buffalo East Coast Pipeline, also 4-0, in a 7 p.m. Friday semifinal at the Point.
New Orleans (4-0) will meet Maryland State (3-1) in a noon semifinal Friday at Sargent’s Stadium. The semifinal winners will advance to Saturday’s title game in the 81st AAABA Tournament.
“Collectively as a group, the players were focused on starting hot,” Osborne said of Thursday’s win. “And they did.”
Johnstown tallied four runs in the bottom of the first inning, added one in the fourth, and broke open the game with a seven-run fifth inning.
“We got on the board early,” Osborne said.
“We came to play. We keep saying every day, ‘One game at a time.’
“Now, we’re on to Buffalo. We just have to keep the sticks moving,” he added. “Pitching and defense has been solid in this tournament. I couldn’t be happier with these guys.”
Catcher Trey Wingard went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Center fielder Tanner Stroup had two hits, including his third triple in the tournament, and Bryce Roberts produced two hits, with a solo homer and two RBIs.
The hit parade included Colin Dinyar’s three RBIs, Xander Richardson’s double, and Cayden Turner’s triple.
“That’s a great win, a great team effort,” Brody Roberts said.
“The pitching was great. The hitters had great at-bats. The defense was great, no errors.
“That’s how we know we can play. It’s great to actually get out on the field and do it.”
Mainline Pharmacy starter Aiden Snowberger pitched 52/3 innings. The Indiana (Pa.) pitcher struck out five and walked one while allowing eight hits and two runs.
“Snowberger did exactly what we wanted from him,” Osborne said.
“He worked counts and got ahead early. His offspeed pitch after the first inning settled in.
“He induced soft contact and made big pitches when he needed, and the defense backed him up.”
Reliever Baron Dionis, of Pitt-Johnstown, tossed 11/3 scoreless frames, with four strikeouts and two walks.
“Baron has been consistent and he’s a rubber-armed guy who could come back Friday or Saturday,” Osborne said.
Imler’s Poultry catcher Nick Kraft and second baseman Gavin Fowler each had two hits and drove in a run apiece.
Fowler and shortstop Brady Steiner each scored a run.
“That’s a good ball team,” Osborne said.