Freedom Area Tops New Brighton 12-4 in WPIAL Baseball Section Play

Freedom Area High School defeats New Brighton in WPIAL Class 2A Section II baseball matchup

Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:36pm

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a high school baseball game, with players and the field broken down into abstract shapes and planes of vibrant colors.A cubist interpretation of the intense action and competitive spirit of a high school baseball section matchup.New Brighton Today

Freedom Area High School defeated New Brighton 12-4 in a WPIAL Class 2A Section II baseball game played on Monday, March 30, 2026 at Freedom Area High School in Freedom, Pennsylvania. The game featured strong pitching performances, timely hitting, and aggressive baserunning from both teams.

Why it matters

This WPIAL section matchup between neighboring schools New Brighton and Freedom Area is an important early-season game that could impact the playoff standings later in the year. Both teams are looking to position themselves for a strong postseason run in the highly competitive Class 2A classification.

The details

Freedom Area pitcher Garrett Drutarosky had a solid outing, delivering several key pitches to keep the New Brighton offense in check. Freedom Area's offense was led by center fielder Nick Fessler, who tripled and scored, and catcher Anthony Taddeo, who hit a double. New Brighton's Jaxson Zahn had a stolen base and Jaleb Bailey made a nice play in left field to cut off a throw.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • It was part of WPIAL Class 2A Section II play.

The players

Garrett Drutarosky

The starting pitcher for Freedom Area High School who had a strong outing.

Nick Fessler

The center fielder for Freedom Area High School who tripled and scored a run.

Anthony Taddeo

The catcher for Freedom Area High School who hit a double.

Jaxson Zahn

The starting pitcher and shortstop for New Brighton High School who had a stolen base.

Jaleb Bailey

The left fielder for New Brighton High School who made a nice play to cut off a throw.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys came out focused and ready to play today. We knew this was an important section game, and I'm proud of the way we competed from start to finish.”

— Dan O'Leary, Freedom Area High School Head Coach

What’s next

Both teams will continue their WPIAL section schedules, with Freedom Area hosting Quaker Valley on Thursday, April 2 and New Brighton traveling to Beaver on Friday, April 3.

The takeaway

This early-season section matchup between neighboring rivals Freedom Area and New Brighton showcased the competitive nature of WPIAL Class 2A baseball, with both teams displaying the talent and determination that will make for an exciting playoff race later in the spring.