Faith Christian Academy left no doubt in its title defense, rolling to a 13-1 win over Freedom Area in the PIAA Class 2A baseball championship on June 13 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in State College.

Reid Miller dominated on the mound and delivered at the plate as Faith Christian captured its second state championship in two years, completing a 22-2 season after moving up a classification, Yahoo Sports reported.

The Lions opened with an explosive first inning, putting up three runs after Miller sparked the offense with a triple into the outfield gap. Jagger Verbit followed with an RBI groundout, and Brandon Labs added a double to extend the lead. A sacrifice fly from Collin Kim capped off the inning and gave the Lions early momentum.

Freedom Area's lone run stems from errors

Freedom Area cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, a pair of passed balls, and an error allowed the Bulldogs to score their only run of the game. Miller quickly bounced back, keeping Freedom Area off balance for the remainder of the matchup.

The senior right-hander struck out the side in the third inning and escaped a jam in the fourth when the Bulldogs placed runners on second and third with no outs. Verbit made a sliding catch in center field and threw home for a key double play to preserve the lead.

In the top of the fourth, Miller made his presence felt again at the plate with a sacrifice fly before fellow senior Madden Marcks knocked in another run with a triple to deep center, giving Faith Christian a 5-1 cushion.

Lions' bats erupt in the  middle innings

Faith Christian widened the gap in the fifth inning, beginning with an RBI single from Jude Clymer. That came after Logan Labs blasted a two-run single to stretch the lead to 8-1. The Lions continued to apply pressure with timely hitting and base running throughout the middle innings.

The sixth inning saw Verbit reach on a single and later cross home plate on an RBI from Chase Gieser, adding another insurance run. By the final frame, the momentum was fully on the Lions’ side as fans began to sense another championship was within reach.

In the seventh, Clymer sent a ball to the outfield for a sac fly, and Marcks reached base on a fielder’s choice. Miller added an RBI double before Kim delivered a two-run single to cap off a dominant offensive performance.

Miller's season stats are among the best in the state

Miller finished the game with 11 strikeouts, allowing only three hits over a complete-game effort on 99 pitches. The senior concluded his season with a microscopic 0.52 ERA and an 18-1 record over two seasons, totaling 118 strikeouts in just over 67 innings pitched.

At the plate, Miller was equally lethal in 2025, batting .560 with 42 hits and driving in 37 runs. In the championship game alone, he recorded a triple, a sacrifice fly, and a double. His all-around dominance made him a standout figure in Faith Christian's championship journey.

Logan Labs also had a standout performance in the final, going 4-for-4 and playing a key role in the fifth-inning surge that effectively put the game out of reach. Across the lineup, Faith Christian got contributions from all nine spots, showcasing the depth that carried them through the postseason.

Faith Christian completes back-to-back title run

Faith Christian moved up from Class A after finishing the 2024 season with a perfect 23-0 record and capturing the state title. In 2025, the Lions finished 22-2 and went undefeated in the Bicentennial Athletic League for the second straight year.

Their postseason run included a 16-1 win over Masterman, an 11-4 extra-inning victory against South Williamsport, and a 2-0 shutout of Mount Union in the semifinals. The championship win over Freedom Area was their most lopsided of the tournament, underscoring their readiness for the Class 2A level.

Freedom Area, which ended its season with an 18-8 record, had advanced to the final after defeating Bishop McCort, Red Bank Valley, and Mercyhurst Prep. Though they had tight wins in earlier rounds, they were unable to keep pace with Faith Christian’s high-powered lineup in the final.

Players reflect on final moments of season

Gieser, a senior who drove in a run late in the game, reflected on ending his high school career with a title. “The feeling was nearly indescribable,” he said. “For my high school career to end with a state championship is something I dreamed of as a kid.”

Miller said he couldn’t have imagined a better way to finish: “I definitely could not have (imagined a better ending). I knew we had it in us, though.” He added that he felt physically ready for the big game, saying, “I was a little sore, but other than that, I was good.”

Head coach Nick Koffel credited the team’s effort and leadership, especially from his star pitcher. “The boys played well today and Reid dominated again,” Koffel said following the victory.

Young talent points to a bright future

Sophomore center fielder Verbit, who made a game-changing play in the fourth, praised the team’s spirit. “It was very satisfying going back to back,” he said. “This team had so much energy and good memories.”

“Sadly, it’s over, but to have fun and win ballgames is awesome,” Verbit added, hinting at high expectations for the seasons to come. With contributions across all grade levels, the Lions appear poised for continued success even as seniors graduate.

As the final out was recorded and celebrations began, Faith Christian cemented itself as a rising powerhouse in Pennsylvania high school baseball, even after moving up a classification.