State Baseball Champion Pope John Paul II High School Golden Panthers honored by PA House of Representatives

The Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers baseball team stopped in Harrisburg to visit state Rep. Mike Vereb on its way to winning the state championship in Centre County.  The team and Vereb had their picture taken inside the historic chamber of the state House of Representatives.

From Pa. State Rep. Mike Vereb's office:

The players and coaches of the Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers baseball team made history 10 days ago on the main campus of Penn State University by capturing the school’s first state championship since its doors opened in 2010.  The state House today in Harrisburg commemorated that accomplishment by adopting a state resolution introduced by Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery). 

"We want these young men to know that their community and the Commonwealth are proud of their accomplishment," Vereb said.

The Golden Panthers defeated the Harriton Rams 4-2 in the state championship game on June 13 at Lubrano Park's Medlar Field in University Park.

The game was a rematch of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) District 1 title game held 15 days earlier.  Both schools are from Montgomery County.

"Montgomery County really showed this year that it is overflowing with high school baseball talent," Vereb said.

The state championship came during Coach John Duffy's first season with the team.  Throughout the season, the Golden Panthers found ways to squeeze out close victories by winning 15 games by two runs or less.

"These guys showed an ability to persevere through adversity and find ways to win," said Vereb. "On behalf of the state House of Pennsylvania and the people it represents, I congratulate Coach Duffy and the PIAA state champion Golden Panthers."