Latrobe, Bushy Run Legion teams lose, will meet in semis

District 31 American Legion champion Latrobe and third-place finisher Bushy Run advanced to the Pennsylvania Region 7 semifinals Tuesday despite losing their first games.

Latrobe split its two games, defeating host Bedford, 2-1, and falling to Beech Creek, 8-6, on a walk-off grand slam by Ty Houtz.

Pool A was decided by a tiebreaker as Bedford, Latrobe and Beech Creek each finished 2-1. Bedford allowed nine runs, Latrobe 12 and Beech Creek 15. Because Latrobe had beaten Bedford head-to-head, Latrobe won Pool A and will face Bushy Run at 11 a.m.

Latrobe scored two runs in the fourth inning in its win against Bedford. Winning pitcher Peyton Henry singled home the tying run, and an error allowed the second run to score.

Henry and Jake Albaugh each had two hits for the Jethawks.

Against Beech Creek, Latrobe rallied from a 4-1 deficit to grab a 6-4 lead with a five-run fifth inning.

Logan Short had three hits, and Logan Bradish had two hits for Latrobe.

Houtz had four hits including the grand slam and a two-run homer. He drove in six runs.

Levi Schlesinger had three hits and Caden Falls two hits for Beech Creek.

Haden Sierocky pitched three scoreless in relief before running into trouble in the seventh inning.

Three Latrobe pitchers issued nine walks.

Phillipsburg 4, Bushy Run 1 — Because of heavy rain over night, the game was moved to Forest Hills High School.

Thanks to Young Township, which lost to St. Michael, 13-6, Bushy Run earned the second seed from Pool B. Bushy Run, Phillipsburg and St. Michael each finished 2-1, but the first tiebreaker was runs allowed.

Phillipsburg allowed four runs, Bushy Run 14 and St. Michael 16.

Phillipsburg scored four runs in the second inning to defeat Bushy Run. The Beavers scored their run in the sixth inning on a groundout by Tyler Freas that scored Matt Lichota.

Bushy Run only had three hits in the contest.

Bushy Run faces Latrobe at 11 a.m., Bedford plays Phillipsburg at 2 p.m. and the winners meet at 5 p.m. for the title.

The region winner advances to Boyertown for the state tournament beginning July 23.

Region 6 — Blackhawk defeated North Allegheny, 5-1, in the semifinals and then beat Uniontown, the returning champion 10-4 in the title game at Beaver.

Blackhawk advances to the state tournament.