HS Baseball Weekend Roundup: North Schuylkill honors Brandon Harris
North Schuylkill baseball commemorates Spartan alumni Brandon Harris with the presentation of a metal display jersey featuring Brandon's last name and the number 22. Pictured is North Schuylkill baseball coach Nick Brayford (left), Nicolette Harris (Brandon's sister), Julie Harris (Brandon's mother), and Jodie Harris (Brandon's sister-in-law) during Saturday's pregame ceremony (Photo by Eli Doyle).
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — The North Schuylkill baseball program honored one of its own.
Brandon Harris, a 2018 North Schuylkill graduate, was forever etched into Spartan baseball history before Saturday’s non-league game, which saw North Schuylkill fall to Whitehall 10-4.
“Brandon’s will to win and pride in North Schuylkill baseball far surpassed any player I have ever coached,” head coach Nick Brayford said.
Harris, a native of Gordon, passed away on July 19, 2024. Before Saturday’s game, Brayford displayed a large metal jersey cutout featuring “Harris” across the back and the number 22, joined by members of Harris’ family for the ceremony.
In addition to his contributions to the baseball team, Harris played bass drum for the North Schuylkill Marching Band. He later graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Corporate Communication and a minor in Sports Management.
Harris served as the announcer for the North Schuylkill boys’ and girls’ basketball teams beginning in 2021 and did the same at Penn State Schuylkill Campus.
He was a member of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and served as an MDA Ambassador for Schaeffer’s Harley-Davidson. He was also a devoted fan of all Philadelphia sports teams, an avid video gamer, a collector of sports memorabilia, and enjoyed riding in Harley sidecars.
On the field, Stephen Minahan doubled and collected a pair of RBIs for the Spartans (5-9), who fell behind 3-0 in the top of the third inning. North Schuylkill rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 8-4.
Aaron Brayford added an RBI for the Spartans, while Landen Smith, Kole Rollenhagen and Max Gallagher each tallied a hit.
Hunter Rogers, Aiden Oliveri and Kolton Joyce combined for eight strikeouts on the mound for North Schuylkill.
Blue Mountain 4
Northern Lebanon 1
ORWIGSBURG — Matt Grasso pitched a complete game and allowed one earned run on four hits as Blue Mountain beat Northern Lebanon in a non-league game.
Brady Strause and Dean Faust each plated a run for the Eagles (10-5) with a double, while Strause also singled and came around to score in three appearances at the plate. Aidan Grace walked twice and came around to score both times for Blue Mountain.
Shenandoah Valley 6
Mahanoy Area 4
MAHANOY CITY — Brayden Maksimik went 4-for-4, scored three runs and added an RBI as Shenandoah Valley defeated Mahanoy Area in a Schuylkill League Division II game.
Maksimik, a senior, added four innings of relief pitching and struck out seven. Chase McCole collected two RBIs for the Blue Devils (11-5, 7-3).
For the Golden Bears (2-12, 1-9), Levi Terry went 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBIs, while Mikey Oblas had a double, single and scored a pair of runs.
