Beech Creek Junior Legion Stayin’ Alive
by Zoe Keeler
SCRANTON – The Scranton Junior Legion Regional Tournament moved into the final day Wednesday with three teams left vying for the top spot. Northampton, Conestoga, and Beech Creek each had one loss in the double elimination tournament. In Wednesday’s action, the Junior Crickets are to play Northampton at 11 a.m. and if they win they would play in the finals against Conestoga, the same team they defeated by a 6-3 count on Tuesday.
The Beech Creek offense came out firing against Conestoga as they scored 3 runs in the top of the first inning. Alex Garbrick had a single and scored. Talon Falls had a double to drive in Garbrick, and Wyatt Koch tripled to score Falls. Landon Breon followed with a sacrifice bunt to score Koch.
Conestoga got one back in the bottom of the first inning with a walk, a hit by pitch, and a sacrifice fly to right field. They got another run in the second on two walks and a single.
The Crickets scored the remainder of their runs in the fifth inning when Brandon Miller led off with a double to right field. He scored on Garbrick’s single to center field. Garbrick then scored on Falls’ second double of the game. Conestoga scored their other run in the bottom of the seventh but it was not enough to send Beech Creek home from the tournament.
Garbrick got the start for the Jr. Crickets and had six strike outs and gave up two hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Breon came on in relief and had two strike outs while giving up two hits and one run to get the save for the Crickets.
Beech Creek has won three games in a row since losing its opener, 1-0, last Saturday to since-departed Bloomsburg. Landon Breon was the hard-luck loser in that one, tossing a complete game 2-hitter.
Wins followed on Sunday, 15-7 over Central York, Ethan Watkins, Connor Bauman and Mitch Smith sharing the pitching duties; then 4-1 over Roxborough on Monday, Cole Reeder with a 2-hitter, compiling 14 strikeouts.
