Beech Creek Jr. Legion Claims WB Tourney Title

BEECH CREEK — The Beech Creek Junior Legion baseball team took the long road to the West Branch playoff crown, but it ended with success Saturday evening, a 10-5 title game win over Mifflin County.

It was on Tuesday that Mifflin County came to Beech Creek and sent the Junior Crickets into the loser bracket with a 7-4 win. But the Beech Creek squad battled back, ultimately needing to defeat their Mifflin County rivals two times. One came Friday behind A.J. Smith, a 5-3 win at Mifflin County.

The Friday win set up the title game at Beech Creek Saturday and the home team did not disappoint. Smith got the Junior Crickets going with a bases-clearing first inning double for a 3-0 lead.

Mifflin County pushed across four in the top of the second to regain the lead, but it lasted only until the bottom of the second when winning pitcher Ethan Watkins continued his torrid postseason hitting, clearing the bases with a 3-RBI double.

Watkins meanwhile, other than inning number two, was dominant on the mound, going 5 and 2/3 innings, giving up 5 runs, 4 hits, striking out 11 and walking four. Mahlik Houtz finished up with an inning and a third of no-hit ball.

Watkins finished with a double, single and four runs batted in. Beech Creek also had RBI singles from Zach Eck and Tanner Lavelle, along with singles from Austyn Carson, Asher Corl, Austin Rager and Brady Eck.

With the win Beech Creek added the postseason title to its regular season crown. The performance qualified the team for the Junior Legion sectional tournament beginning next Saturday in southeastern Pennsylvania.