O’HARA TWP — Struggling with control, Quaker Valley pitcher Jake Pilewicz staked Freeport a 1-0 lead in Wednesday’s WPIAL Class AA baseball quarterfinal.

Once the senior right-hander zeroed in on the strike zone, the Yellowjackets began to pile up zeroes.

Pilewicz tossed a one-hitter — retiring 19 consecutive batters along the way — and paced the Quakers to a 6-1 victory over Freeport at Fox Chapel High School.

The win improved top-ranked Quaker Valley to 20-0 on the season.

“Seeds are just numbers. Everybody here is here for a reason — it’s because they’re good,” said QV coach Todd Goble. “This is playoff baseball. ... That’s a good team. We scratched and clawed.”

Freeport (12-4), coming off its first postseason win in 15 years, held a 1-0 edge through three innings until the Quakers tallied five runs in the top of the fourth despite having just one ball leave the infield.

Five walks and three hits — including two RBI infield singles — doomed the Yellowjackets.

After two walks, Matt Delie laced an RBI single up the middle to score Shane Emery just ahead of a strong throw from center fielder Damon Smith.

McCormick walked in a run to make it 2-1 before Robbie Miller took over and the Quakers managed to push across all three inherited runners with a walk and two infield singles.

Pilewicz made sure the lead held up, striking out five over 91 pitches during the complete game. He didn’t allow a baserunner after the first inning until Josh Beale reached on an error with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

The ’Jackets missed a chance to inflict serious damage early.

Freeport right fielder Levi Negley roped a two-out single in the first inning, before Pilewicz walked Matt Swartz, plunked Smith in the helmet and walked Luke Mariotti to bring home the Yellowjackets’ run. However, Pilewicz fanned Beale to limit the scoring.

Quaker Valley — which plays Deer Lakes (17-3) in the semis — tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh after Pilewicz doubled and later scored on a wild pitch.

It was the only run charged to Miller, who hurled 3 2-3 innings, allowed four hits, struck out one and walked two. The senior had set down eight straight Quakers before the Pilewicz two-bagger.

“He kept it within reach,” said Graczyk of Miller. “He threw strikes, kept the ball down, did what he was supposed to do.”

Dustin Koedel — who entered the game hitting .370 with a team-high 16 runs scored and 16 stolen bases — nearly interrupted Pilewicz’s string of 19 outs, but was robbed of a hit when QV center fielder Nelson Westwood made a diving catch on a sinking liner.

Koedel joins Miller — who sports a team-best .553 batting average — Smith, McCormick, Negley, Mariotti and Ryley Cowan playing the final game in their Freeport careers.

The seniors captured a section title in 2012 and broke Freeport’s 15-year drought of playoff wins.

“They play hard. They practice hard,” said Graczyk of his seniors. “Everything they’ve accomplished these past two years ... my hat is off to them. It’s to their credit.”

“It felt amazing to get Coach Graczyk his first playoff victory,” said Koedel. “I love my team. At the beginning of the year, I was considering doing track but I came to baseball and it was probably the best decision I could have made.

“My heart is with baseball. I love every single one of my teammates and couldn’t ask for a better group to go through this with.”

Quaker Valley 000 500 1 — 6 7 2

Freeport 100 000 0 — 1 1 1

W: Jake Pilewicz 7 IP (5K, 2BB). L: Ethan McCormick 3 1-3 IP (0K, 5BB).

Quaker Valley (20-0): Clayton Bouchard 2-1B, RBI, SB; Nelson Westwood BB, RBI; Jake Pilewicz 2B, 1B, BB, RBI; Roberto Gibson R; Shane Emery BB, R; Ben Utterback BB; Matt Lacenere R; Ryan Dickson BB; Matt Delie 2-1B, R, RBI; Alex Tanabe 1B; Tyler Garbee BB, R; Adam Pilewicz BB, R, RBI

Freeport (12-4): Levi Negley 1B, R; Matt Swartz BB; Damon Smith HBP; Luke Mariotti BB, RBI