Rustin can't hold early lead, is ousted in PIAA Semifinal
MILLERSVILLE - The West Chester Rustin baseball team's dream of playing for a PIAA 5A championship expired Monday afternoon at Millersville University. The Golden Knights had an early five-run lead but saw Greencastle-Antrim reel off the next 11 to take a 11-5 semifinal win.
The Blue Devils will travel to Penn State Friday at 4:30 p.m. to take on the winner of the DuBois-Holidaysburg game, while the Golden Knights season comes to a close.
Rustin (18-7 overall) plated two runs in the bottom of the second inning and three more in the third, chasing Devils' starter Ryder Lynn after two and one third innings. In came super sophomore Cam Rakaczewski from his shortstop position. Greencastle-Antrim got four and two thirds of shutout ball from the reliever, who also added four hits at the plate, including a solo home run.
"I have come in relief a few times this season," Rakaczewski said. "I did not have time to warm-up because I was already in the game but I just wanted to stay ahead of the hitters and throw strikes. My change-up was working well and I was able to locate today.
"It is a great feeling to be going to play for a state title. As far as being five runs down I always have faith in the guys on this team. We feel we are Neve route a game."
The Knights got a big two-run single from JJ Dorsey-Hubbard in the bottom of the third inning to open a 5-0 lead. Lynn walked four Rustin batters in his two-plus innings of work and with Rustin ace AJ Calio on the mound, it seemed like the Knights were headed to the PIAA 5A final game.
The Devils had other ideas, however. Calio lost control of his pitches in the top of the fourth inning. He walked four batters in the inning and Greencastle-Antrim scored two runs in the inning to cut the Rustin lead to 5-2.
The skies opened for the Devils in the top of the fifth inning. Rakaczewski led off with a long solo homer to left field, making it 5-3. Calio then hit Nolan Sullivan with a pitch and walked the next two batters to load the bases with no one out.
That is when Rustin coach Brad Harkins came out to get Calio and go to Luke Collinson on the mound. Calio threw 96 pitches and walked seven batters. The Rustin ace had only walked seven batters all season.
Collinson looked like he would get out of the jam as he struck out the first two batters he faced. Landon Bishop, however, poked a two-run single to right field with two out, and suddenly it was 5-5.
Colinson coaxed a ground ball by Bryce Davidson, but the ball was booted at shortstop and the error allowed Greencastle-Antrim to score another run and a 6-5 advantage.
"AJ really battled for us today," Harkins said. "He lost a little control there but he is just a great talent who has worked so hard to get to this point and we are really excited to see his future at Vanderbilt University. He was a pleasure to be around these last four years."
Rustin got what looked like a game-saving play in left field by Dorsey-Hubbard in the top of the sixth inning. Devils' pinch hitter Noah Shifflet came up with the bases loaded and uncorked a rocket to left center field. Dorsey-Hubbard closed in on the ball and made a great one-handed grab, and the Devils left the bases loaded.
The Knights got a lead-off single in the bottom of the sixth from JT Tiberio. Ryan Wood then moved the runner to second base with a nice sacrifice bunt. Rakaczewski, however, then retired Xavier Wood and Jackson Roche to keep Rustin off the board.
Greencastle-Antrim opened the seventh with a man on first base, courtesy of another Rustin error. Davidson then laid down a bunt that died between home plate and first base, and the Devils had two men on with no one out.
Things got a little strange after that. Andrew Weaver laid down a bunt that the Rustin third baseman fielded and when he threw to first base, Roche, who was covering, collided with the first base umpire, sending the ball into right field and the Devils had a 7-5 lead.
Rakaczewski proceeded to rip his fourth hit of the day, a hard RBI single to center field, to make it 8-5. Harkens went to his bullpen again and Brogan Walsh, but he threw a wild pitch, allowing another Greencastle-Antrim run to score. Two more RBI singles followed and the Devils had a 11-5 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Rakaczewski allowed a Rustin base runner in the seventh but got two fly balls to close out the win. The Devils' sophomore worked four and two third innings and allowed Rustin just two hits and no runs.
"He is used to coming into the game in relief," Devils' coach Eric Shaner said. "He is just a flat-out dude. Since he was eight years old he has been working on his game. He has tremendous baseball instincts and he works so hard on his development. I am glad he is on our side."
The loss was a bitter one for the Knights, but this Rustin team went further than any team in program history.
"We just gave away too many bases today," Harkins said. "We walked too many guys and that last inning got away from us a little and the umpire collision did not help us. This was a very tough and dedicated team but you cannot make as many mistakes as we did against a real good team with a lot of good players."
Greencastle-Antrim 11, West Chester Rustin 5
Greencastle-Antrim 000 240 5 – 11
W.C. Rustin 023 000 0 – 5
WP - Rakaczewski. LP - Calio.
HR - Rakaczewski.
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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 9:21 PM.