legion – Berks Sports Report

Chris Bergstrom-Kutztown

Paul Roberts — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 21:37:57 +0000

Kutztown and Reading combined for 16 runs when they met in the winner’s bracket final of the Berks County Legion playoffs on Saturday. The second-seeded Cougars and top-seeded Groundhogs squared off again on Monday for the championship, but this time runs were at a premium. Chris Bergstrom’s two-out, RBI single in the 8th gave Kutztown a dramatic 1-0 victory over Reading. “Something I haven’t felt before, it was awesome. It was a great feeling to bring the [championship] home to Kutztown,” said Bergstrom. Colin Hamm was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the 8th inning. A sacrifice bunt by Ashton Dunn moved courtesy runner Corey Gilbert to second. After a pop out to second base, the Groundhogs opted to intentionally walk Colin Diehl. The leadoff hitter was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. Bergstrom was grateful for the opportunity. “That motivated me. I was smiling. I was ready,” he said. The rising junior hit a ground ball between shortstop and third base. Gilbert scored easily from second to kickoff a celebration on the infield. Bergstrom was mobbed by his teammates. He mentioned that he was sitting on a fastball and that’s what he got. The Cougars went (5-0) in the double-elimination tournament. Southpaw Ashton Dunn and Reading’s Joelian Zapata both went the distance. Zapata allowed four hits and walked three. He struck out six. Dunn tossed a one-hitter with seven strikeouts and three walks. “Ashton Dunn pitched a hell of a game…they didn’t know what he was throwing. He was mixing in all of his pitches,” noted Bergstrom. The Groundhogs left the bases loaded in the top of the 2nd frame. Nestor Rosario hit a line drive to center that was caught by Kaden Kerecz and turned into a double play. Reading had another chance to get on the board in the 5th inning, but Zapata flew out with a runner on third to end the threat. Franllis Santos’ single in the 5th was the lone hit for the Groundhogs. Kutztown committed three errors. The Cougars still managed to hoist the trophy in their first season back in the Berks League. Kutztown and Reading qualified for the Region 2 tournament which begins on Saturday at Lower Macungie.

Berks Legion Playoffs

Paul Roberts — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 17:09:10 +0000

The Berks County Legion baseball postseason got underway on Monday. Shillington and Post 217 (Oley/Topton) met in the play-in game. They were tied 6-6 before Shillington erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the 6th inning. Post 217 fell 14-6.

The bracket is set for Wednesday. The double-elimination tournament continues through Monday, July 15. Kutztown will host all of the games beginning on Saturday. Here are the seeds along with Wednesday’s matchups.

#8 Shillington at #1 Reading (George Field)-7pm

#5 Boyertown at #4 West Lawn-7pm

#7 Exeter at #2 Kutztown-7pm

#6 Twin Valley at #3 Norchester-7pm

Nick Crocona-West Lawn

Paul Roberts — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 12:33:00 +0000

The Shillington Dodgers went into Monday knowing that they needed two wins to claim the Berks County Championship. West Lawn made sure that there wouldn’t be a nightcap. The Owls soared to a 3-0 lead after one inning and cruised to an 8-1 victory. Nick Crocona struck out the side in the top of the 1st. “It definitely gave me a lot of confidence moving forward because they have some talented hitters in the top of their lineup,” said Crocona. Mansfield commit Ryan Sekulski hammered a 2-run triple to left field in the bottom of the frame. Lucas Gensemer followed with a RBI single up the middle. Three of West Lawn’s five hits came in the 1st. “You feel like you have much more of a cushion. You feel a lot more relaxed,” noted Crocona. The right-hander tossed five scoreless innings with five strikeouts and no walks. He allowed five hits. The (17-5) Owls erupted for five runs in the 3rd. After Charlie Frantz tripled, Christo Hunsicker lofted a sacrifice fly to center. A passed ball and an error at third base allowed the next two runs to score. Shillington trailed 6-0 before Jordan Shutter’s 2-run bloop single to right field. Crocona, who’s headed to Ursinus, gave a lot of credit to Shutter. He replied, “That’s my guy. I feel like we connect so well. He knows what I want to go to. He’s a phenomenal catcher.” Crocona improved to (2-2) with a 2.60 ERA this summer. Gensemer threw the final two innings at Owls Field. He gave up an unearned run on one hit and a pair of walks. Bryce Detwiler went the distance on the mound for the Dodgers. They upset Boyertown to reach the championship game. Detwiler allowed five hits and three walks. The rising junior at Gov. Mifflin struck out six and hit a batter. He was an All-Berks selection during the high school season. Detwiler went 2-for-2 with a walk. Matt Koehler drove in Shillington’s lone run with a single to right field in the 6th. West Lawn advanced to the Region 2 tournament which begins on Saturday at Boyertown. “We’re having a great time. We have great friendships all around and we bond so well,” said Crocona.

Ryan Kelly-West Lawn

Paul Roberts — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 23:12:00 +0000

Ryan Kelly struggled with his command in the opening round of the Berks County Legion League playoffs, but he didn’t let that impact him at the plate. The left-handed hitter ripped a 3-run homer in the third inning of West Lawn’s 6-2 win over Shillington on Wednesday night. Kelly took advantage of the short porch at Owls Field. It’s 305 feet down the right field line. His blast just made it over the fence and provided a spark for the third-seeded Owls. Kelly, a rising sophomore at McDaniel College, only lasted 3.1 innings. The righty allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits and five walks. He struck out five. Kelly walked Tristan Huyett with the bases loaded in the top of the first. Matt Novotny walked the first three batters that he faced in the bottom half of the frame, but the rising senior at Gov. Mifflin was able to get out of the jam without giving up a run. Shillington put runners on the corners in the third inning with nobody out. Hunter Unger grounded into a double play which gave the sixth-seeded Dodgers a 2-0 advantage. The (16-10) Owls answered right back. Evan Gabaldon stroked a two-out RBI single before Kelly’s 3-run shot. West Lawn added two more runs in the sixth when Ryan Sekulski’s fly ball to right field was dropped. Kelly gave credit to Lucas Gensemer and Christo Hunsicker who combined to toss 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. They each allowed one hit. Hunsicker got speedy leadoff hitter Mason Woolwine to ground out to third with two outs and the bases juiced in the top of the sixth. Gensemer and Hunsicker were 1-for-3 at the plate. Gabaldon provided two of West Lawn’s five hits. Shillington managed four hits. Novotny finished 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. The right-hander pitched 5+ innings. He gave up five runs, four earned, on five hits and six walks. Novotny also hit a batter while striking out four. The Dodgers fall to (4-11). Kelly stressed that the competition in the Berks League is tough and they can’t overlook any teams. We talked about using wood bats. He said, “It’s a huge difference. Pitchers just have to throw more strikes. It changes the entire game.” Kelly has been working on a two-seam fastball this summer. He helped Wilson capture two District 3 championships during his high school career. I asked him about competing against college hitters this past season at McDaniel. He replied, “They’re a lot more patient. No one swings at bad pitches and every at bat counts.” Kelly participated in a league for college players last month at Myrtle Beach. He enjoys being back in West Lawn and playing baseball with his friends. He described the rivalry between the Owls and Shillington. West Lawn will visit Bear Stadium on Thursday at 7pm to battle #2 seed Boyertown. The tournament shifts to Owls Field on Friday. The winner advances to the Region 2 tournament which will be held in Quakertown.