Oran on roll heading into 1A semifinal

Oran (19-4) is flying high entering today's Class 1A semifinal against Morrisville Marion C. Early (18-5).

The Eagles are riding a string of three 10-run victories into the game, the most recent an 11-1, six-inning thumping of Advance in the quarterfinals.

"If we keep playing the way we've been playing, we'll be a tough team to beat," Oran coach Mitch Wood said. "If we score 12 runs like we've been, we're going to have a good chance to win."

Oran has averaged 14.25 runs over its last four games and has not scored fewer than two runs all season.

The Eagles will throw ace Trey Graviett (7-3) at Marion C. Early and will likely come back with Ryne Wood (6-1) on Thursday in the championship or third-place game. Marion is expected to start senior Chris Gerleman (10-2), a hard-throwing right-hander who has struck out 148 batters in 74 innings.

"We've had good success against hard-throwing pitchers, and hopefully we can continue that," Wood said.

Eight of Oran's nine starters are hitting over .326 and the team averages .377 overall.

The winner will face New Haven (15-9) or Sacred Heart (16-3) in Thursday's championship game.

-- Jeff Breer