By Steve Smull
LVBL News

Every top seed won this past weekend, and five of those six series were sweeps. Here is a brief recap of the games.

AA South Division

#4 Lehigh Valley Bandits vs. #1 Landsharks BC

The Sharks rolled 15-1 in Game 1. Noah Adams was 4-for-4 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored, Luke Fox was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored, Josh Nales was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, and TJ Johnson was 2-for-2 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Johnson got the complete-game win, allowing one unearned run.

Game 2 was a pitcher’s duel as Mike Viola of the Bandits threw a complete game, allowing just 3 hits while striking out 7. Nick Mazzella pitches 5 innings of no-hit ball, striking out 9 while walking 3 batters. Josh Nales picked up the save and struck out 3 batters in his 2 innings of work.

#3 Bethlehem Yankees vs. #2 Lehigh Valley Angels

The only series that was not a sweep. The Angels won in walk-off fashion in Game 3 on a one-out error.

Grant Hershman held serve as the Angels won 7-2 in Game 1. Hershman pitched 7 innings, allowing 5 hits while striking out 10, Caleb Gross was 3-for-5, Justin Schmoyer was 2-for-4, Sam Kraihanzel was 2-for-5, Marcus Nales homered, and Connor Morro got the save for the Angels.

Zach Silfies held serve as the Yankees won 10-6 in Game 2. Silfies threw a 5-hitter, allowing 2 earned runs, while striking out 14. Silfies was also 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored and Isaac Samuel was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI for the Yankees. Marcus Nales was 3-for-3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored for the Angels.

The Angels won 5-4 in Game 3. Caleb Gross got the win in relief and Nales was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI for the Angels. Three Yankees pitchers combined on a 2-hitter. Andres Rivera, Andre Ledee, Isaac Samuel and Wesley Diaz had 2 hits apiece for the Yankees.

AA North Division

#4 Pilots vs. #1 Wilson Warriors

Wilson won 14-2 in Game 1. Tyler Vail picked up the win. Nathan Fusco-Lomont was 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and 6 RBI, and Patrick Flynn was 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored for the Warriors.

Wilson edged the Pilots 4-2 in Game 2. Edwin Lopez went 6 1/3 innings for the win, while Nicky Caricari picked up the save. Brandon Smith was 2-for-4 with a homer, and Nathan Fusco-Lomont also added a solo home run for Wilson.

#3 Nazareth River Otters vs. #2 Bushkill Blue Jays

Bushkill defeated Nazareth 6-4 in Game 1. Nick Terleski pitched 8 strong innings for the win, while Lee Kuntz picked up the save. 
The Blue Jays whitewashed the River Otters 12-0 in Game 2. Nate Fritzinger allowed just one hit and struck out 8 for the 5-inning complete-game win.

Premier Division

#4 Birdsboro Orioles vs. #1 Salisbury Falcons

The Falcons beat the Orioles 9-4 in Game 1. Gabe Mosser threw 5 innings of 1-hit ball, while striking out 11. Justin Aungst picked up the save. Mosser was also 3-for-5 with 2 RBI at the plate, while Tyler Tocci was 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored, Aungst was 2-for-4, Brad Vangeli was 2-for-5, and Brandon Black was 2-for-5 with 2 RBI.

Salisbury defeated Birdsboro 7-1 in Game 2. Aungst pitched a complete-game 3-hitter for the win. Tyler Tocci was 3-for-3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored, Bryan Schoch was 3-for-3, Joey Galantini was 2-for-2 with 2 RBI, and Evan Kulig was 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored.

#3 Lehigh Valley Cardinals vs. #2 Alpha Braves

The Braves beat the Cardinals 6-5 in Game 1. Colton Langworthy gutted out a complete-game victory, not allowing an earned run while throwing 150 pitches for Alpha. Jose Berrios was 3-for-4 with a double, Blake Fontaine was 3-for-5, and Jimenez was 2-for-4 for the Cardinals. Steven De La Cruz went 7+ innings and also did not allow an earned run, while striking out 13 in the hard-luck loss. 

The Braves defeated the Cardinals 10-6 in Game 2. Zak Karasek picked up the win for Alpha. Luis Mendoza hit a grand slam for the Cardinals.