UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — After a rocky start to the season in March and early April, few would have forecasted Shaler’s season to stretch all the way into mid-June before concluding at Penn State’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in the PIAA Class 5A championship. And although the Titans were unable to capture the grand prize Thursday night, there certainly is no shame in silver — after all, the reigning WPIAL champions already have plenty of gold back home. Facing off against District 1 runner-up Upper Dublin (18-5) while competing in the state final for the second time in the past three seasons, Shaler fell into an early hole it couldn’t climb out of en route to a disappointing 8-2 loss.

The Titans (20-7) mustered only five hits, while Upper Dublin tallied 13 hits without making a single error. Heralded freshman Luke Caron pitched a complete game while striking out five to earn the victory, while Dante Deleonibus was the loser for Shaler. “The plan offensively has been the same one we have been trying to execute, and we decided to step up and execute in the biggest game of the season,” said Upper Dublin coach Ed Wall.

“We preach grinding [at-bats], spitting on balls and being aggressive on strikes, and our boys did exactly that today.” In a 5-2 extra-innings win against Pine-Richland in the WPIAL championship, towering right-hander Colby Weber shined on the bump for Shaler — just as he did all season long. But the coveted East Carolina recruit was unavailable to pitch on Thursday after firing a three-hit shutout in a 2-0 PIAA semifinal win Monday against Lampeter-Strasburg. Titans coach Brian Junker acknowledged that it might have been a different outcome had Weber been available — but then again, they likely wouldn’t have made it this far without riding Weber’s rocket of a right arm throughout the postseason.

Deleonibus served as a reliable No. 2 starter all year long, but it was clear from the start of the game that Shaler is simply a different team with its ace on the mound. “We’re proud of Dante,” Junker said.

“He came out and competed. It’s not all on him. We didn’t hit well enough, we didn’t field well enough, we didn’t coach well enough.

And when you do that against a good team, this is what happens.” Shaler’s Brendan Fitzgerald dives for a fly ball in an 8-2 loss against Upper Dublin in the PIAA Class 5A championship. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress) To open the game, Upper Dublin put two runners on base with a walk and a single, but Deleonibus worked his way out of the jam without giving up any runs. In the second inning, Upper Dublin got the scoring started with three consecutive singles before Deleonibus stranded two runners on base — but the onslaught was just beginning.

The game began to unravel for the Titans in the top of the third, as this time Upper Dublin started the inning with four singles in a row to add to its lead. Another run came home to score on a groundout followed by an RBI single, and all of a sudden, Shaler found itself staring at a 4-0 deficit. “They did a nice job of putting the ball in play,” Junker said.

“When you’re putting guys on base with walks, you really don’t have a shot. … Their pitcher did a nice job.” The Titans had perhaps their best chance to strike back in the bottom half of the inning, as shortstop Landon Schiffhauer led off with a triple before coming home to score Shaler’s first run on a suicide squeeze bunt by Logan Bauer. With two runners on and nobody out, the Titans appeared to be on the verge of a big inning, but back-to-back foul-outs and a flyout helped Caron limit the damage.

Just when the momentum seemed to be shifting in Shaler’s direction, Upper Dublin quickly seized full control of the game by adding on three more runs in the top of the fourth. A controversial double play then doomed any hopes the Titans had of responding in the bottom of the inning — just another indication that it simply wasn’t Shaler’s day. “I’m proud of these guys,” Junker said.

“This team got better every week. They did everything they were asked. It hurts, because you put in all that time, and we grow to love these kids.

To come up short, it hurts. “We came up here to win. We’re not used to the silver.” Shaler coach Brian Junker addresses his team after the 8-2 loss against Upper Dublin.

(Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress) The Titans got a run back on a balk in the bottom of the fifth, but it was far too little, too late. Sophomore Matthew Logerstedt put an exclamation mark on Upper Dublin’s championship with a solo home run over the right-field wall in the sixth, finishing 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. For Shaler, Schiffhauer went 2 for 3 with 1 double, 1 triple and 1 run scored, while Brendan Fitzgerald finished 1 for 2 with 1 double, 1 walk and 1 run.

“It feels like I’ve been with [the seniors] for 10 years,” Junker said while choking back tears. “They were probably all campers at my camp. I’ve known them since they were all 6 years old.

I’m just going to miss them.”