NORTHFIELD - Kyle Platner threw a complete-game five-hitter as the Pioneer Regional baseball team defeated Smith Academy 8-3 in the quarterfinals of the Western Massachusetts Division 3 Tournament Monday afternoon.

From the first pitch, Platner showed that he possessed great command and took a no-hitter into the top of the fifth inning before allowing a two-out single to Steve Golonka. Platner finished the game with eight strikeout's and scattered four walks over six innings to propel the seventh-seeded Panthers into the semifinals.

Pioneer will face No. 6 St. Joseph's Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at Szot Park in Chicopee. St. Joe's beat St. Mary's 18-13.

No. 15 Smith Academy finished 11-11.

Pioneer belted out 10 hits, four for extra bases against the Falcons. Tom Malooly lead the way, going 3-for-4 with a triple, double and single. Casey Blanchard contributed two hits and two RBIs.

Smith Academy upset No. 2 Granby 3-2 last Thursday but the Falcons were unable to keep the magic going against Pioneer. Mike Molloy lead the way for Smith, going 2-for-4 with two singles and a run scored. Nick Sulda pitched well in relief, but Smith could not overcome an early deficit.

Pioneer led off the scoring in the bottom of the second when Tyler O'Brien walked, moved up to second on a passed ball, and scored on a John Mancha double. Mancha scored on Nick Pecluzzi's single up the middle. Pecluzzi came around to score on a Blanchard single, putting the Panthers ahead by three, and they never looked back.

Pioneer came right back in the third with two more runs off Smith starting pitcher Nick Fitzgerald. Malooly led off with a triple and scored on Joey Larson's sacrifice fly. Mancha reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a wild pick-off attempt that went into right field, putting Pioneer ahead by five.

Two innings later Malooly lead off with a single, moved to second on a Joey Larson single, and scored on O'Brien's single, putting the Panthers up 6-0.

Smith Academy plated its first run in the top of the sixth. Pat Lowery lead off with a walk, Molloy singled and the next two batters drew walks to put Smith's first run on the board. Molloy then scored a second run on a sacrifice fly but that's all Platner allowed in the sixth. Smith added another run in the top of the seventh but it was not enough.

Smith Academy head coach Rocky Barbuto said, "We played hard, but we spotted them some early runs, and didn't hit until the end, and with that formula, we weren't going to win."

Pioneer had reached the quarterfinals in each of the past two seasons but lost both times. This year Pioneer took control early and rode Platner to a win. Pioneer coach Tom Conway said his team "came out with great intensity and was ready to play a complete game."

On Platner's performance, Conway said, "Kyle and Joe (Larson) have been our guys the whole year, and they are a big part of why we have gotten this far."

Platner attributed his win to good command and said he "expects the team to keep up the momentum, and to keep on winning."