Thursday’s contest is set to begin at 4 p.m.

Like Bellefonte (18-4), the Vikings are fresh off a notable win, defeating then-unbeaten District 3 champ Northern Lebanon (23-1), 2-1. Senior starting pitcher Brady Sell pitched a two-hit gem, striking out 11. And Archbishop Wood scored a go-ahead run in the sixth to come out on top.

While Sell won’t be available, logging over 100 pitches on Monday, the Red Raiders can expect runs to hard to come by on Thursday. Archbishop Wood pitchers Andrew Unrath and Jack Couglin can hold their own from the mound, each harboring an ERA below 2.20 while striking out a combined 51. Each can be expected to take the mound on Monday, and six Archbishop Wood arms have ten or more strikeouts on the season.

Offensively, the Vikings are led by senior outfielders Caden Vacca and Chase Cavallaro, who each bat above a .425. Vacca gets on base on over 50 percent of his plate appearances and leads the team in homers with three. And Cubby Bailey, Luca Nardone and Jimmy Shultz bat above a .320 to follow them up.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte’s Cameron Lucas (33) throws the ball during Monday’s state win against Elizabeth Forward.

“I was looking at some of their articles, and they’re tough,” said Bellefonte manager Jon Clark on Archbishop Wood.

“I saw them play Dallas in the state semifinals in 2023. They’re a team that’s always competitive. They’re always right there. They’re well coached, and they have great ball players, so it’ll be another nice test for our guys.”

For Bellefonte, the team enters the contest fresh off a balanced win.

Nine hits translated into 11 runs – six coming in one inning in the fourth. Three Bellefonte batters – Evan Mattern, Oliver Thornburg and Alten Howell – logged two hits, with Mattern reaching home twice and scoring the team’s game-winning run in the sixth.

Pitching wise, junior Zach Lehman struck out ten and allowed just one run through 5 2/3 innings pitched. He’s available for Thursday, but Carsen Henry and Triston Heeman could man the mound Thursday as well.