D9and10Sports/Yourdailylocal is counting down what we believe are the Top 25 moments/games/performances of the 2021-22 high school sports season in District 9 and District 10. The countdown is powered by Hunter’s Station Golf Course just outside of Tionesta
DUBOIS, Pa. – State champions with an exclamation point.
The DuBois Central Catholic baseball team had a historical run to the PIAA Class 1A baseball championship, dominating the competition every step of the way.
They began their PIAA playoff run with a 15-5 win over Rochester, followed by a 7-1 win over Saegertown in the quarterfinals, a 12- win over Southern Fulton in the semifinals, and a 12-2 win over Halifax in the PIAA championship game. Only the Saegertown game went the full seven innings.
In doing so, they became the first District 9 team to win a state baseball championship in nine years
They finished the season 22-4 and ended on a 15-game winning streak. In those games, they scored double digits eight times and allowed two runs are fewer in 10 of them. They won by 10 or more runs seven times.
The offensive approach wasn’t complicated, and it led to great results. The Cardinals swept the D9and10Sports postseason awards, as Carter Hickman was named Player of the Year, Brandin Anderson Pitcher of the Year, Brayden Fox Rookie of the Year, and Adam Fox Coach of the Year.
Hickman hit .416 with eight doubles, two triples, 20 RBIs, and 17 runs scored while recording an OPS of 1.096. He was just as good if not better on the mound going 11-0 with a 1.25 ERA. In 50 ⅓ innings of work, he struck out 54, walked 34, and hit a batter. Opponents hit .149 against him.
Anderson went 5-2 with a 2.90 ERA. In 50 ⅓ innings of work, he struck out 60, walked 37, and hit one while opponents batted .198 against him. He was at his best in the postseason, going 3-0 with a 1.11 ERA. He was the winner in the D9 title game against Clarion-Limestone as well as the state championship game against Halifax.
Fox, the son of coach Adam Fox, hit.456 with five doubles, three triples, and a D9-leading 38 RBIs while also scoring 29 runs with a 1.106 OPS. He also saw a limited amount of time on the mound going 2-1 in 10 ⅔ innings with a 2.62 ERA. He struck out seven and walked four.
Cole Sansom was first-team All-District 9 as a reliever. He was 0-0 with a 0.47 ERA. 15 innings pitched, 34 strikeouts, 9 walks, .040 opponents’ batting average against (Also hit .347 with 21 RBIs, 22 runs scored).
Kaden Brezenski, meanwhile, hit.361 with three home runs, 8 eight doubles, 30 RBIs, 25 runs scored, 1.081 OPS, joining Snowberger on the second team.
As a team, the Cardinals hit .347 and had an ERA of 2.48.
