Sometimes, all it takes is one hit or one pitch to win or lose a game.

For the Bushy Run American Legion baseball team, it was one bad inning.

Quakertown (26-2) scored 11 runs on nine hits in the top of the third inning to defeat the Beavers (21-5), 11-6, in the opening game of the Pennsylvania American Legion State Tournament at North Allegheny High School.

“We made nearly every baseball mistake you can make in that inning,” Bushy Run coach Scott Peyman said.

The inning was death by a thousand cuts for Bushy Run: All of Quakertown’s hits were singles.

“We have confidence in all our guys,” Quakertown coach Robert Helm said. “Our guys did the little things, they stayed behind the ball in their at bats and most of our hits were up the middle.”

Danny Qualteria singled to open the inning and stole second. Cole Reich followed with a walk.

Bushy Run starting pitcher Ian Temple threw a wild pitch, allowing both runners to advance. Gunnar Rahn made Temple pay, roping a single to left field to score Qualteria.

With runners at the corners, Cooper Natisin hit a ball towards Beavers first baseman Ethan Septak, who threw to second looking for the double play.

Bushy Run shortstop Brody Hoffman looked to have made the out at second, but he dropped the ball on the transfer. Second base umpire ruled Hoffman never had control, allowing Reich to score and putting runners on first and second.

Peyton Myers singled to load the bases, Gerry Sanziola walked in a run, Carl Weiss and Josh Camacho singled in runs and Carver Perrone reached on a fielder’s choice.

Perrone was the last batter for Temple, who went 2 1/3 innings, allowed nine runs, seven earned, walked a pair and struck out three.

Left-handed relief pitcher Nico Casciato came in and gave up RBI singles to Qualteria and Reich.

Rahn reached for the second time in the inning on catcher’s interference. Natisin singled in a run. Myers reached on an infield single, scoring Reich, and Sanziola walked to load the bases again.

Casciato got Weiss to fly to right to end the inning.

“I know there’s a little bit of pressure with this being the first game of states, but we’ve got to relax. We’re a good baseball team,” Peyman said. “All we had to do was keep throwing strikes and try not to get frustrated.”

Eight of Quakertown’s nine hitters had at least one RBI.

Qualteria was 2 for 5 with two singles and Reich singled twice and walked. Rahn and Natisin each collected two RBIs. Sanziola was 0 for 1 with two walks and a hit by pitch.

Casciato held the Blue Jays in check the rest of the way, allowing no runs on one hit, and struck out three in the rest of his four innings.

The Beavers opened the game the way they wanted to, scoring five runs in the first two innings off Quakertown starter Myers.

“We punched them in the mouth early. Just one horrible inning changed the whole complexion of the game,” Peyman said.

Hoffman led off the bottom of the first with a lasered double to left center and went to third on a bunt single from David Newsom as the third baseman stayed at the bag instead of going after the ball rolling down the third-base line.

Newsom stole second on the next pitch. Hoffman and Newsom scored on an error by Quakertown.

Septak lined a pitch off Myers, and the ball deflected towards first baseman Weiss, who fielded the ball and threw to Myers covering the bag.

Myers dropped the ball on what looked like a transfer, but the umpires ruled he never caught it, giving Bushy Run an early 2-0 lead.

In the second inning, Colton Tyburski walked, stole second and scored on two wild pitches from Myers.

Eric Biroscak then walked and came home to score on another double by Hoffman, this one a missile over the left fielder’s head. Hoffman later scored on a single to center by Newsom.

Anthony Pellegrini replaced Myers in the bottom of the third. Myers went two innings and surrendered five runs, three earned, walked two and struck out two.

Pellegrini went 3 1/3 innings and shut the door. He allowed one run, on one hit, walked five and struck out three.

Septak walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, scoring Biroscak.

That’s the closest Bushy Run came to mounting a comeback.

Qualteria came in and tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out three, walking one and giving up one hit to earn the save.

“Myers didn’t have his best stuff today, but Pellegrini picked him up and stabilized everything,” Helm said. “Danny’s been our closer for the last two years, and we have all the confidence in him when he’s on the mound.”

Hoffman went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Newsom was 2 for 4 with two singles, an RBI and a run scored. Biroscak was 0 for 2 with two walks and two runs scored.

Quakertown will play Northeastern at 4:05 p.m. tomorrow.

Bushy Run will face the loser Bristol in the losers’ bracket at 10:15 a.m. tomorrow.

“I think we got everything out of the way now, so hopefully moving forward, we’re perfect,” Peyman said.

In other action, Hughesville rallied to defeat Belle Vernon, 8-2, and Northeastern defeated Bristol, 6-0.

The Murrysville/Wesleyville game started at 8:15 p.m. and was not complete at press time.

Junior Legion

Sunbury-Norry rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat Trafford, 5-4, in the opening round of the Junior American Legion Pennsylvania State Tournament at Homer City.

Charles Walter singled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Trafford scored four runs on only two hits.

Evan Gigliotti singled and Peyton Mastro doubled for Trafford. They were issued eight walks.

In other action, Hamburg defeated Indiana’s S.W. Jack, 11-3; Upper Perkiomen downed Monroeville, 13-3; and Boyertown beat Homer City, 21-1.

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