Bristol Post 382 Wins Regional Title

The scoop: It was fitting that in a tournament filled with blowouts and four-hour affairs that the championship game was the first and only extra inning contest in the Region Three tournament.

Bristol Post 382 brought defending state champion Spring City’s American legion season to a close on Wednesday in a stirring 16-15 win claiming its first region title in club history, but the Red Sox did not go out with out a fight.

In a game that more closely resembled a heavy-weight fight, the Sox and Bristol went two to two exchanging massive blows, each rising up from the mat repeatedly.

It was a lethal combination of eight errors committed by Spring City and amazing barehanded double play Post 382 shortstop Matt Petrizzi and one base hit on a rock hard infield that sent the defending regional and state champs to the canvas for the final time in 2011, staring the celebration for the boys in black and blue.

With the game knotted at 15 apiece Ricky Gorrell got it started for the Red Sox in the bottom of the ninth with a lead off single and it looked as though Spring City, who was 14-2 in the past two seasons in elimination games coming into the tilt, was going to be able to rise up from ashes again until Mike McLeod, who was slated to start a game two if it happened, struck out Kenny Pierson then got Cody Clarke to rap a ball back to shortstop Petrizzi who snared the ball with his bare hand and in one motion touched the bag and gunned it to first to end the threat and save Bristol from having to play a second game.

In the top of the tenth, Jeff Lesko started the frame with a single then was advanced to second on a ground out by Brian Beyer, who had 21 RBI in the tournament. Kyle Tepper (3-for-6, 2runs scored) followed by drilling a ball destined for the outfield until shortstop Ricky Gorrell made a diving grab keeping it in the rock hard infield.

Ryan Hess stepped into the box with two out and delivered a base hit back through the box scoring Lesko and giving Post 382 its first regional title and a date in the State tournament to be held at Owls Field at Ted Palka Park in West Lawn. 

Mike Mcleod, who was slated to be the second game starter for Bristol, entered the game following Gorrell ninth inning single, then struck out two in the tenth to close out the game.

Turning Point: The pivotal at bat of the game was in the Bristol sixth inning as Spring City had rallied to tie the game at six, then essentially gave Bristol six outs in the inning, with a dropped tag out on a stolen base attempt and a ball played loosely off the horrendous infield surface allowing another two runs to score, Bristol put up four runs and more importantly was able to get Red Sox starter Sean Larkin, who had been sensational striking out five and allowing just two earned runs to a team that had been scorching pitchers all tournament long, out of the game.

Player of the game: A Herculean effort by designated hitter James Hoff, who crushed three home runs drove in eight runs, scoring five runs went by the way side with the Red Sox loss. Hoff, who will be playing ball for Ursinus College next season, was unable to catch due to an arm injury but single handedly tried to lift the team on his back and carry them to the state tournament which starts on Tuesday in West Lawn. 

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Bristol

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16

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Spring City

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15

20

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Inside the lines: "We knew we had to get Larkin out of the game," Bristol manager Tim Monoghan said. "He was throwing outstanding. Once he was out of the game, we knew we had a chance to hit them as we had seen their other relievers the other day. That sixth inning was the key to the game. That is an outstanding team and they showed why they are state champs, what a game. We rolled the dice a little bit there by putting Mike in the game in the tenth, but I wanted to go for the win right there and get it done. I am very proud of our guys and can’t wait to get to states."

Say what? "We knew we could hit the ball if we stayed in our game," said Dave Blount, who knocked in 15 runs during the tourney with a couple of round trippers. "We knew that once we got out of our league we could roll, not to sound cocky but we have confidence in each other and know we are capable of putting up a lot of runs. Mike (McLeod) did a great job there closing it out."

Extra Innings: Bristol Post 382 has started their legacy as they embark on the first trip to states. The Red Sox core group of Sean Larkin, Ken Pierson, James Hoff, Pat Medley, Ryan Conway, Tom Grablewski, Ricky Gorrell have accomplished things that may never be duplicated by any Spring City team as they won the 2008 Pennsylvania Junior legion State championship, 2010 Pennsylvania State senior legion championship. 2010 Region Three championship and qualified for the 2010 Mid Atlantic tournament all team firsts.

Pennsylvania Region 3 Tournament bracket at Owen J. Roberts High School

GAME 1  SATURDAY JULY 16  9:45AM   Spring City 16  Whitpain 5

GAME 2 SATURDAY JULY 16   1PM         Fort Washington 16 Olney  7

GAME 3 SATURDAY JULY 16   4PM        Bristol 382  15  Wayne 5

GAME 4 SATURDAY JULY 16    7PM        Norchester 13  Narberth 0

GAME 5 SUNDAY JULY 17        9;45AM    Whtipain 14  Wayne  9   (Wayne elminated)

GAME 6 SUNDAY JULY 17        1PM          Olney  12  Narberth 6  (Narberth eliminated)

GAME 7 SUNDAY JULY 17        4PM         Bristol 15  Spring City 11

GAME 8 SUNDAY JULY 17        7PM         Norchester 14  Fort Washington 2

GAME 9 MONDAY JULY 18      12;30PM  Spring City 20  vs Olney 16  (Olney eliminated)

GAME 10 MONDAY JULY 18    4PM         Whitpain 10 Fort Washington 6  (Fort Washington eliminated)

GAME 11 MONDAY JULY 18    7PM         Bristol 18  vs Norchester 4

GAME 12 TUESDAY JULY 19   4PM         Spring City 10 Norchester 4 

GAME 13 TUESDAY JULY 19   7PM         Bristol 17 Whitpain 10 

GAME 14 WEDNESDAY JULY 20 12;30PM  Bristol 16 Spring City 15  (10 innings)