Freeport's Ben Beale tries catching New Castle runner Marcus Hooker (9) off third base during the Yellowjackets' 8-3 loss in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs Tuesday.

JACKSON TWP — One bad inning often costs a baseball team a game.

The consequence was a much tougher pill for Freeport to swallow on Tuesday afternoon.

New Castle's 5-run third inning spelled the end to the Yellowjackets' season as they dropped an 8-3 decision in a WPIAL Class 4A first-round playoff game at Seneca Valley's Raider Field.

The Red Hurricanes tallied seven of their 15 hits in the frame, sending 11 batters to the plate.

“We scouted them the last few days and knew they were a really good team,” said Freeport coach Ed Carr. “It was going to be a dogfight.

“It was just that one inning.”

The frame began innocently enough, with Freeport starting pitcher Brodey Cowan retiring Anthony Cioffi on a pop-out. But six of the next seven batters reached base, beginning when Bob Salem hit a solo home run to left. Brayden Cartwright singled home a run, Mark Torsello tripled home two more and Nick Morel's RBI-base hit prompted Carr to pull Cowan from the mound with the 'Jackets trailing 6-1.

“There have been times this season when our offense has been shut down,” said New Castle coach Mark Elisco, “but a few of our guys started hitting the ball today. Sometimes, hitting is contagious. We were fortunate today. Freeport is a very good team. We just got the momentum and ran with it.”

Freeport (12-4) closed the gap to 6-2 with an unearned run in the bottom of the third. New Castle, aided by a pair of Freeport throwing errors, extended its lead to 8-2 against reliever Sean Furlong with two runs in the top of the fifth.

The 'Jackets best chance at a big inning came in the bottom of the fifth. Nick DeRosa's walk to Cowan loaded the bases with just one out. Aiden Skradski scored on Furlong's sacrifice fly and Matt Charlton's fly ball was caught to end the threat, stranding runners at first and second.

“We had chances to score more today,” said Carr, “but could never get more than one (in an inning). New Castle's hitters showed the ability to hit fastballs and off-speed stuff and that was key. They just out-hit us today.”

DeRosa pitched six innings in the win. In the seventh, reliever Zack Walker allowed singles to Griffin Cohen and Cowan, but did not allow a run.

Freeport nearly claimed a share of the Section 1 title. The 'Jackets were the only section foe to hand Knoch a loss this season.

“A lot was made about the fact that, for a lot of our players, baseball was not their primary sport,” said Carr. “But when they took the field, they were leaders. Every one of our seniors brought something to the team. I love 'em all like family.”

New Castle 015 020 0 — 8 15 1

Freeport 011 010 0 — 3 5 2

W: Nick DeRosa 6 IP (5K, 5BB). L: Brodey Cowan 2.2 IP (2K, 1BB).

New Castle (12-9): Anthony Cioffi 1B, Bob Salem HR, Matt Senchak 1B R, Brayden Cartwright 3-1B RBI, Nick Rubis 1B R, Nick DeRosa 2-1B R, Mark Torsello 1B 3B R 3RBI, Nick Morel 2-1B R 2RBI, Alex Fee 2-1B RBI, Marcus Hooker 2R

Freeport (12-4): Brodey Cowan 1B R, Sean Furlong RBI, Alex Ehalt 2B, Gavin Skradski 1B RBI, Aiden Skradski 1B R, Shane Volek R, Griffin Cohen 1B