Shortly after the Bucks County Herald went to press, the Quakertown Blue Jays claimed the American Legion Region 2 championship in convincing fashion. They used eight two-out sixth-inning runs to steamroll the Wanderers 11-2 in the title game.
The Wanderers topped Quakertown 6-0 in Game 1, setting up a winner take all Game 2. Brayden Schuler's two-out single gave Quakertown a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth. Quakertown erupted for an eight-spot in the sixth. Ty Everitt hit a two-run single while Ethan Beil and Caleb Everitt hit RBI doubles to highlight the onslaught. Caleb Everitt pitched a complete game for the win.
Quakertown (20-5) won its fourth straight game of regionals Tuesday night, topping West Lawn 8-7 in nine innings. Catcher Brandon Pierce was the hero, thumping a three-run double in the fourth and plating Caleb Everitt on a walk-off sacrifice fly.
When Pennridge fell to Quakertown 4-2 on Monday’s third round, it ended Ridge’s 15-game win streak. Quakertown didn’t even need a hit to plate three runs in the top of the fifth, while pitchers Peyton Myers and Caleb Everitt kept Pennridge bats in check.
The last team to previously top Pennridge? Quakertown. By a 4-3 score on June 8.
In Tuesday’s elimination game, Pennridge’s Nate Lapp was terrific. He took a no-hitter into the fourth yet Wanderer counterpart Ryan Hoffman matched him zero for zero. The Wanderers plated two in the sixth to oust Pennridge (18-3) 2-0.
Pennridge swept Quakertown in the Bux-Mont Legion tournament – including a win in the championship game – but Monday’s win put the Blue Jays in the driver’s seat for regionals. The “W” was more remarkable considering it was Quakertown’s second game of the day.
As the winner (Pennridge) and runner-up (Quakertown), both teams represented the Bux-Mont League in the eight-team regional that started on Saturday. Both teams walked off into the winner’s bracket in the first round. Aidan Fretz’s RBI single plated Lapp, ended the game and gave Pennridge a 3-2 win over Northampton.
In the ultimate night cap – rain delays and a prior extra-inning game forced a 10 p.m. first pitch – Cooper Natisin hit a bottom of the seventh sacrifice fly to score Ty Everitt and give Quakertown a 6-5 win over Boyertown.
Will Slamm did it all for Pennridge in the second round, throwing a three-hit shutout and hitting a home run in a 1-0 victory over West Lawn. And Quakertown joined them in the winner’s bracket, plating three in the top of the seventh to beat the Wanderers 3-1.
It marked the second straight summer that the two teams both advanced to the regional final four.
Pennridge and Quakertown were easily the top two teams of the Bux-Mont regular season. The two powerhouses split their regular season series. Pennridge claimed the league title with a 7-3 win over Quakertown on July 10.
As the tournament winner, Quakertown clinched one of seven available spots at the state Legion tournament, which begins July 24 in Latrobe. Quakertown hopes to join 2012 Doylestown as a Bux-Mont state champion.
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