The Shaker baseball team kept pace with North Division-leading Shenendehowa and locked up a Section II Class AA playoff berth with Friday’s 5-3 Suburban Council victory over Bethlehem.
After the Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Blue Bison (9-2 league, 10-3 overall) scored two runs on a ground out and a wild pitch in its half of the frame to grab a 2-1 advantage. Bethlehem (7-4, 10-4) scored twice in the third inning before Shaker regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third.
Chad Sinko scattered seven hits and allowed one earned run in a complete-game pitching effort for Shaker. Tyler Hoffman singled twice and scored three runs, and Nick Gavin drove in two runs with a single and a ground out.
Mike Graves had two hits for Bethlehem.
Shen (10-1 league) defeated Averill Park 5-1 Friday to maintain its one game lead over Shaker.