Hempfield East rallies to defeat Young Township; West Point girls open with win

Hempfield East rallied from an early deficit to defeat Young Township, 7-3, on Thursday in Game 3 of the District 31 American Legion playoffs to win the best-of-three series.

The win advances Hempfield East to Saturday’s semifinals against No. 1 seed Latrobe and qualifies it for the Region 7 tournament. Game 1 of the semifinal series will be 6 p.m. Saturday at Latrobe High School.

Young Township grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run homer by Brayden Wright.

But East scored a run in the third inning and took the lead for good with three runs in the fourth inning. Josh Cayer, who singled, Sam Hanley, who walked, and Tyler Martin, who singled, all scored for East.

Cayer relieved Max Short and earned the win. He allowed four hits and one run over the final five innings.

Grayson Willis drove in two runs, Martin had three hits and Dom Rosenberry and Hanley had two hits.

West Point 5, Montoursville 1 — The West Point 12U girls softball team opened the Pennsylvania Little League Major Division state tournament with a 5-1 victory against Montoursville at Wellsboro.

West Point plated three runs in the first inning, two scoring on a single by Jocelyn Luft and a third on a groundout.

Jayelyn Luft worked into the fourth inning to earn the win. She allowed one hit and struck out eight.

The Luft twins, daughters of coach Tina Madison, each had two hits.

West Point will face Pittston Area at 2 p.m. on Friday.

The other first-round winners were Indiana, which defeated Titusville, 1-0, and Caln Township, which blanked Towamensing, 10-0.