Neshaminy defeated Butler 7-3 to capture the program’s first ever PIAA 6A State Tournament title. Check out the recap.
PIAA 6A State Tournament final
#1-4 Neshaminy 7, #7-1 Butler 3
It was a celebration that was a long time coming.
A celebration that began the moment southpaw Matt Gryn recorded the game’s final out with a strikeout in Neshaminy’s win over Butler in Thursday night’s PIAA 6A state title game, and yes, it was worth the wait.
The Patriot Division title the Redskins lost this season in their final league game, their District 1 6A title run that ended in the semifinals - none of that really mattered because in one unforgettable night at Penn State University’s Medlar field at Lubrano Park, the Redskins made history, winning the ultimate prize – their program’s first ever PIAA 6A state championship.
“This means everything,” senior captain Chase Bonner said. “It’s everything we’ve been working for the past seasons. We’ve had a hard time getting over that hump the past two seasons, but we knew what we experienced last year – losing in the (state) semifinal game - the only expectation for us was this year to be right back in this game.
“We knew with the guys we had coming back – all the seniors are just a bunch of absolute dogs on this team. We knew we were coming here, and we knew we were going to take it. The only thing that we’ve had our minds set on the past week was winning this game.”
But it wasn’t easy.
The scheduled 4:30 pm start time went out the window before the rain came due to the length of the games preceding the day’s final contest. Making matters even worse, fans and players alike were forced to endure a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay that could have been a momentum killer before the first pitch was finally thrown at 7:52, but it wasn’t.
“In the rain delay, we were in the locker room, and the whole team - we were close -knit,” senior captain Noah Wallace said. “No phones, nothing – we were just vibing. The vibes were really high. That’s just our team – we love each other. These guys are my brothers.”
And when the game finally began, they were ready.
In the bottom of the first, the Redskins put a run on the board without collecting a hit. Mike Sassano drew a four-pitch walk to lead off the inning, stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw by the catcher. He scored on Bonner’s ground out to first base.
Butler evened the score in the top of the second, benefitting from a rare stint of wildness by Bonner, who followed four straight strikeouts with four consecutive walks – the final plating the equalizer.
In the fifth inning, the Redskins solved the mystery of Penn State commit Nolan Stefaniak, bunching four singles as well as a walk into four runs. Included in the inning were clutch singles by
Michael Welsh, Dan Marable, Noah Wallace and Matt Gryn.
“In the fifth inning, it was starting to look a little iffy,” Wallace said. “The game was close, and I’ll say for myself – I was struggling early in the game.
“Right before I get off the bus, there’s a song that I play about five times on repeat, and it’s called ‘Peace be Still’ by Hope Darst,” Wallace said. “There’s a line in it that say, ‘Even when my eyes cannot see, I understand the voice that speaks.’
“I’d gotten out early in the game – I was 0-for-2. I knew I couldn’t leave it in my hands – I had to leave it to Him,’ and I came through that inning, our whole team came through, and we took the win. It felt awesome.”
Butler scored a run in the top of the sixth, but the Redskins answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning that included an RBI single by Marable, who was the lone Redskin with two hits.
“I have a good coaching staff behind me, and they were preaching the past two weeks – ‘Other way, other way. Just be simple – don’t try to do too much,’” Marable said. “So, I did, and that’s all it takes.”
Calf cramps prevented Marable from celebrating the way he would have liked when the final out was recorded, but that did not detract from his enjoyment.
“It’s the best feeling in my life,” the junior outfielder said.
Butler added a run in the top of the seventh, but Gryn put an exclamation point on the win with a strikeout to close out the game, setting off the celebration the players didn’t want to end.
It was, after all, their final celebration together, their final dog pile, their final night playing in front of their loyal student section, but as endings go, they don’t get much better than this.
By the numbers: Neshaminy: Dan Marable 2-for-3, 2RBIs, 2R), Noah Wallace (1-for-3, 1RBI, 1R),
Chase Bonner (4.1 0H, 1R, 1ER, 6BB, 8K), Matt Gryn (W) (2.2 IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 3K).
Butler: Nolan Stefaniak (5.2 IP, 8H, 7R, 6ER, 3BB, 3K) (2B, 1R), ), Ryan Rattigan (1-for-2, 1RBI, 1R), Nash Cuffman (1-for-1, 3B, 1RBI, 1R).
Key inning: Bottom of fifth – The Redskins broke a 1-1 tie with a four-run outburst. Michael Welsh led off the inning with a hard ground ball single to right field. He advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw and moved up to third after tagging up on Mike Sassano’s fly ball to right field. With one out, Dan Marable delivered an RBI single and then stole second. Brandon Lall drew a two-out walk, and Noah Wallace’s single to left plated Marable. Lall scored on a wild pitch, and Matt Gryn grounded an infield single to deep short that plated a run and put the Redskins on top 5-1.
Butler 010 001 1 3-4-5
Neshaminy 100 042 x 7-8-1
Butler (3) – Boden Lenyk ss 4-0-0-0; Mavrik Clement c 3-0-1-1; Trent Best rf 2-0-0-0; Nolan Stefaniak p 4-1-1-0; Blake Scott 3b 4-0-0-0; Ryan Rattigan 2-1-1-1; Karsten Lenyk cf 2-0-0-0; Jacob Szbalskie 2b 2-0-0-0; Nash Cuffman lf 1-1-1-1; TOTALS 24 3 4 3.
Neshaminy (7) – Mike Sassano 2B, 3-2-0-0; Dan Marable rf 3-2-2-2; Chase Bonner p/ss 4-0-1-1; Brandon Lall 3b 2-1-1-0; Noah Wallace 1b 3-1-1-1; Matt Gryn lf/p 3-0-1-1; Sam Hitchen c 3 0 0 0 0; Nick Sassano cf 2-0-1-0; Dylan Cloud lf 1-0-0-0; Michael Welsh lf 1-1-1-0; TOTALS 25-7-8-5
Mission accomplished: Neshaminy lost in the state semifinals last year, and the Redskins were sent home in the quarterfinals when this year’s seniors were sophomores.
This year, they won it all. It was a perfect ending for the large senior class.
“I love these guys,” coach Dan Toner said. “I’ve had them since they were sophomores. Brandon Lall started for me since he was a freshman. I told them – ‘No matter what happens, we have hall of famers here. There are hall of famers here.’
“They’ve put up some of the best careers. I said at our banquet - Chase Bonner is the best player I’ve ever coached. He’s a two-time player of the year, and he’s an absolute competitor.
“Brandon (Lall’s) one of the best gloves, and Noah (Wallace) is one of the best first basemen I’ve seen. The Sassano twins (Mike and Nick) are absolutely competitors.”
For all the Redskins, Thursday’s game marked the end of a magical journey through the state tournament that included one formidable opponent after another. Friday’s win came over Butler team that featured a pair of pitchers committed to compete at the Division 1 level – Thursday’s starter, Nolan Stefaniak is a Penn State commit, and Ryan Rattigan is committed to West Virginia. Both routinely throw in the 90s.
Thursday’s win came three days after beating a Pennsbury team with arguably the state’s most imposing lineup, and that win came on the heels of a win over a La Salle squad that was the choice of many to capture the state title. In an opening round game, Neshaminy defeated District 11 champion William Allen.
It was not an easy path.
“Early in the season, we beat ourselves – we made mistakes, but we just rally behind each other,” senior captain Noah Wallace said. “If one guy gets out, he’s not in there throwing his stuff. He’s on the fence (of the dugout) cheering for the next guy. We love each other. We’re a team, we’re a band of brothers.”
And what did it feel like when the last out was recorded?
“As a senior, all the memories just came flooding back – it was awesome,” Wallace said. “I just remember from my freshman year, my sophomore year – we got close, but we finally got it done. This has been a dream of mine since I was a freshman.”
Welsh goes out in style: For one senior, Michael Welsh, Thursday’s game was a rare opportunity to shine at the plate, and he seized the moment.
Welsh has spent the season providing late-game defense for the Redskins.
“He comes in to relieve Matt (Gryn) when Matt pitches,” coach Dan Toner said. “He’s a fantastic outfielder, and he hits good. He just hasn’t had a opportunity to get in there, and for him to come through – he started that big inning for us. It’s just a moment as a senior to step up. I’m so happy for him.”
Welsh led off the fifth inning of a tie ball game and collected just his team’s third hit off Penn State commit Nolan Stefaniak – a ground single to right field. He came around and scored the inning’s first run – a run that gave the Redskins a 2-1 lead on their way to the win.
“I’ve been ready to come in all year,” he said. “I’ve had nine at-bats since the start of the season. I just had to be ready at any moment.
“I’m so lucky this was the game I got to do it because it’s one of the most important games I’m ever going to play in in my life. I just had to be ready for the moment, and when the time came, I’ve got to execute.
“I’m over the moon. I haven’t even taken it all in yet. My senior year, it’s the last thing I’ll ever do for Neshaminy and going out on a high note.”
Welsh also reached base in the sixth, drawing a walk.
“When Matt Gryn went in, I knew I was going to have to hit,” Welsh said. “It’s surreal. That’s the only word I could describe it.”
A golden family: Dan Toner doesn’t have to look far for inspiration. His father, Jess Toner, was a Hall of Fame athlete at Pennsbury High School and has had a successful career as a head coach. He is now an assistant on his son’s staff. 
His mother, legendary field hockey coach Pat Toner, led the Council Rock hockey team to a state championship in 1994 when Dan was 12 years old.
“When I was little, she dragged me around to everything,” the Neshaminy coach said. “They’re both top of the line coaches, so I got to learn from both of them. I got to see the intensity they both coach with, the discipline they coach with, how their teams are run, and I am sure I’ve used some of that in my game plans.
“My goal is to get to where they are – Hall of Fame and champions.”
His mother, who is going through a courageous battle with breast cancer, was at Thursday’s game with – for good luck - her gold medal in tow.
“It’s fantastic to have her here – she never comes to any of my games because she thinks she’s bad luck,’ Dan said. “That’s over now, so she can start coming to some games again.”
Redskin fans are part of success story - Across the street from Penn State’s Medlar Field, there’s large lettering on Beaver Stadium declaring it home of the best fans in the country. While Neshaminy’s student section couldn’t compete with the multitude of fans who pack the stadium, they certainly could give most high school student sections a run for their money.
“They’re ridiculous – they love us and support us,” senior captain Noah Wallace said. “Neshaminy is a big family. It’s great to have them. They supported us through and through.”
The Redskin student section far outnumbered the Butler student section – this despite the three-hour drive (around 30 minutes longer than the trip to PSU from Butler).
“It was fantastic,” coach Dan Toner said of the support. “They came out for us against Pennsbury. It changes the game.”
“These guys are everything,” senior captain Chase Bonner said. “They’re the reason why we come out and we give it our all every single time. They’re bringing the energy all game, and that just pumps us up.
“I can’t really thank them enough because they’re the ones who make this place such a great environment for all of us.”
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