At the beginning of the season, Manheim Central baseball coach Jason Thompson was asked if his team could compete for a title, the thought being a section championship.

Thompson responded by saying if they were not in contention than he did a bad job coaching. Well, rest assured, he did a good job as skipper of the Barons, who exceeded expectations by reaching the state semifinals, this coming after winning a section and league crown.

But the ride came to an end on June 14. Red Land scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and cruised to an 8-0 victory over Manheim Central in the PIAA State Class 5A baseball semifinals last Monday at York's PeoplesBank Park.

The difference in the game was the Patriots got key hits when they needed it. Central (22-3) only had two hits. The Barons have a lot to be proud of and the 2021 squad set a new standard for baseball in Manheim. On paper, Thompson thought they had the pieces to make a run, and the guys have played well.

"As I look back, the development of the players and the relationships we built as a team stand out," Barons' coach Jason Thompson said. "They set the bar in Manheim Baseball history with the most wins in a single season, a league title and a section title and finishing fourth in Class 5A (in the state)."

Getting to the semis took a team effort, as Central scored four runs each in the fifth and seventh innings, to defeat Abington Heights 8-1 in the Class 5A state tournament quarterfinal game on June 10. Baron pitcher Connor Rohrer threw a gem in beating the District Two champions.

"Rohrer was able to throw two pitches for strikes and kept them off balance," Thompson said. "He was dominant on the mound."

Thompson said Rohrer used his fastball and curveball, giving up just two hits, while striking out16.

Colton Book was 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, giving him 32 RBIs for the season, and Ky Watson was 2-for-3. Brady Harbach was 1-for-4 with a key two run double.

Watson emerged as an interesting postseason story. He is a freshman who played junior varsity all year but was brought up to varsity for the playoffs. Thompson said he looked "really good in practice" and has done well for the Barons in the first two state playoff games.

After giving up a run in the first inning, Rohrer settled in, striking out the side in the second inning. The Barons broke the game open in the fifth inning. Book had a two-run single that was followed by a Cam Eberly walk and Harbach's two-run double. In the seventh, Watson, batting in ninth spot, delivered his two-run double.

The Barons lose some great veterans in Book, who will attend Stony Brook on a Division I baseball scholarship, Eberly, strong leadoff hitter and solid glove at shortstop, Malakai Zilinski at third base, Drew Mylin in the outfield, Riley McGallicher at second base and Book, Wyatt Becker, and Trey Derck on the mound.

But they return Harbach, Watson, Mason Weaver, Collin Thompson, Dylan Yoder, and Rohrer on the hill.

"There's a great nucleus returning which gained valuable experience this season," Thompson said. "Where we will need to develop by next spring will be pitching, even with Rohrer returning. The good thing is there is an off season to develop our pitchers."