O'HARA TWP — Early on, things were moving along smoothly for Freeport's baseball team.

Then came the top of the fourth inning.

The top-seeded Yellowjackets never recovered from Steel Valley's five-spot in the frame in dropping a 5-3 decision in Wednesday's WPIAL Class 3A semifinal playoff at Fox Chapel High School.

Steel Valley pitcher Mason Haley, who allowed all three of Freeport's runs in the first inning, blanked the 'Jackets over the final six frames. He struck out four, walked one and gave up just three hits on 92 pitches for the win.

“He did a great job of keeping his emotions in check,” said Ironmen coach Pat Loughran. “I don't think he did a poor job in the first, but he definitely settled down. You could see his confidence grow as things went on.”

Steel Valley (12-8) managed just one base runner against Freeport's Joe Hotalski in the first three innings, but the Ironmen were spurred by one swing of the bat. Joe Kraft's solo home run to begin the fourth got the wheels turning.

Andre Good followed with a single and Brady Miller was hit by a pitch.

Good scored on an error before Hotalski struck out Nick Harhai for the first out.

“Even after the home run, I thought Joe was pitching well and we left him in there,” said Freeport coach Ed Carr.

But Hotalski would not survive the inning. He walked Jacob Bayus and allowed an RBIsingle to Terevon Harris that tied the game. Another error plated Josh Fossick. The Ironmen had taken a 4-3 lead and Hotalski was pulled in favor of Matt Mitchell.

“Joe possesses some power,” Loughran said of Kraft's home run that started the rally. “He got the momentum started for us and we fed off of it.”

One more run would score on Noah Donis' groundout before Freeport picked up its bats for the bottom of the fourth.

But Haley had found his groove and allowed just two base runners in the final six innings — Jarrett Heilman reached on an error in the fourth and Coulton Stewart had a one-out double in the fifth.

“He settled down,” Carr said of Haley. “We had good at-bats, but sometimes, you just have to give credit where credit is due. Tip your cap.”

Mitchell calmed things down for Freeport, pitching three scoreless innings of relief.

The 'Jackets took advantage of an error and Haley's shaky start in the first.

Austin Kepes opened the inning by reaching on a throwing error and later scored on a fielder's choice. Zach Allen singled and scored on a wild pitch. Heilman singled home Mitchell and Freeport's offense appeared headed for a big day.

Freeport (14-6) will face Keystone Oaks in the WPIAL consolation game at Washington & Jefferson College on a date and at a time to be determined. The winner will extend its season into the state playoffs.

“We had 20-some (varsity) hits returning from last year's team,” said Carr. “People didn't expect us to win a section title, let alone play in the WPIAL semifinals.”

Steel Valley 000 500 0 — 5 7 2

Freeport 300 000 0 — 3 3 3

W: Mason Haley 7IP (4K, 1BB). L: Joe Hotalski 3.1IP (3K, 1BB).

Steel Valley (12-8): Joe Kraft HR, Andre Good 2-1B R, Brady Miller 2-1B R, Terevon Harris 2-1B RBI

Freeport (14-6): Zach Allen 1B R, Matt Mitchell R RBI, Jarrett Heilman 1B RBI, Coulton Stewart 2B

TBD: Freeport vs. Keystone Oaks, WPIAL Class 3A consolation game at Washington & Jefferson College, time TBD