Bears geared up for tough opener
Boyertown's Ethan Moser was still standing in the Bear Stadium infield Saturday after being named the most valuable player of the Pennsylvania State Legion Baseball Tournament.
At that moment playing in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals still seemed surreal to Moser and the young Bears, who surprised even themselves by winning their fourth straight state title.
"I'm so amazed that we made it there," Moser said. "We get to play on West Virginia's college field. That's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Boyertown coach Rick Moatz hopes reality will settle in for his team by 12:30 p.m. today when the Bears (37-8) open against Mount Laurel (N.J.) at Hawley Field on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown.
"There's a fine line between, yes, we've done well to be here and having that as the end-all attitude," Moatz said. "Wherever we're going, we should be going there to win."
Boyertown (37-8) has a rough first-round draw in Mount Laurel (33-4), the tournament's only first-time qualifier. The New Jersey runners-up scored 47 runs in their three state tournament wins.
"New Jersey's always one of the favorites going in," said Moatz, whose team was eliminated from the tournament last year by Edison, N.J.
In today's other openers Rensselaer (N.Y.) faces New Castle (Del.) at 9:30 a.m.; South Charleston (W.Va.) meets Mount Airy (Md.) at 4:30 p.m.; and host Morgantown takes on South Richmond (Va.) in the night game.
The tournament winner advances to the Legion World Series to be held Aug. 14-18 in Fargo, N.D.
Win or lose today, Boyertown's second game will be a rematch of sorts as the Bears will face the winner or loser of the Morgantown-South Richmond opener.
Morgantown (31-10), which last hosted Mid-Atlantics in 1999, lost to Boyertown in the '07 regional final at West Lawn. Morgantown earned a spot in Mid-Atlantics last summer and made it to Day 4 of the state tourney this season.
Meanwhile, South Richmond (24-4) beat the Bears 8-4 in last year's winners bracket final to end Boyertown's club-record 43-game winning streak.
The Virginia champs appear to be the favorites heading into today's openers. Head coach Byron Ballard's team went on to win last year's Mid-Atlantic title and finish third at the Legion World Series
Most of that group is back, including Joey Cujas, Chris Ayers and Nick Shaban. Cujas, this year's state tournament MVP, hit two doubles off Shayne Houck last year against Boyertown. Ayers hit the go-ahead two-run homer that night, and Shaban riled the Bears by blowing a kiss at their dugout after recording the third out in the ninth.
There's some familiarity on the other side of the bracket, as well.
Rensselaer (32-5), also known as Melvin Roads Post, played in the tournament at West Lawn two years ago. New Castle (25-8), also known as Stahl Post, is in the tournament for the third straight summer.
Mount Airy (33-14), back in Mid-Atlantics for the first time since the '99 tourney at Morgantown, lost a non-league game last year at Boyertown. Pitching-deep South Charleston (41-10) posted two wins against Morgantown before beating Beckley 14-8 for the state title.
These tournaments usually come down to which team has the most arms.
Last week, Boyertown got key contributions from several young, untested pitchers in overcoming injuries to key pitchers Nate Schnell and Steve Price. The Bears will need that trend to continue at Morgantown.
"This team has showed a lot of heart," said 19-year-old shortstop Brandon Sullivan. "It's been an unbelievable ride."
Contact Don Stewart: 610-371-5065 or dstewart@readingeagle.com.
At that moment playing in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals still seemed surreal to Moser and the young Bears, who surprised even themselves by winning their fourth straight state title.
"I'm so amazed that we made it there," Moser said. "We get to play on West Virginia's college field. That's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Boyertown coach Rick Moatz hopes reality will settle in for his team by 12:30 p.m. today when the Bears (37-8) open against Mount Laurel (N.J.) at Hawley Field on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown.
"There's a fine line between, yes, we've done well to be here and having that as the end-all attitude," Moatz said. "Wherever we're going, we should be going there to win."
Boyertown (37-8) has a rough first-round draw in Mount Laurel (33-4), the tournament's only first-time qualifier. The New Jersey runners-up scored 47 runs in their three state tournament wins.
"New Jersey's always one of the favorites going in," said Moatz, whose team was eliminated from the tournament last year by Edison, N.J.
In today's other openers Rensselaer (N.Y.) faces New Castle (Del.) at 9:30 a.m.; South Charleston (W.Va.) meets Mount Airy (Md.) at 4:30 p.m.; and host Morgantown takes on South Richmond (Va.) in the night game.
The tournament winner advances to the Legion World Series to be held Aug. 14-18 in Fargo, N.D.
Win or lose today, Boyertown's second game will be a rematch of sorts as the Bears will face the winner or loser of the Morgantown-South Richmond opener.
Meanwhile, South Richmond (24-4) beat the Bears 8-4 in last year's winners bracket final to end Boyertown's club-record 43-game winning streak.
The Virginia champs appear to be the favorites heading into today's openers. Head coach Byron Ballard's team went on to win last year's Mid-Atlantic title and finish third at the Legion World Series
Most of that group is back, including Joey Cujas, Chris Ayers and Nick Shaban. Cujas, this year's state tournament MVP, hit two doubles off Shayne Houck last year against Boyertown. Ayers hit the go-ahead two-run homer that night, and Shaban riled the Bears by blowing a kiss at their dugout after recording the third out in the ninth.
There's some familiarity on the other side of the bracket, as well.
Rensselaer (32-5), also known as Melvin Roads Post, played in the tournament at West Lawn two years ago. New Castle (25-8), also known as Stahl Post, is in the tournament for the third straight summer.
Mount Airy (33-14), back in Mid-Atlantics for the first time since the '99 tourney at Morgantown, lost a non-league game last year at Boyertown. Pitching-deep South Charleston (41-10) posted two wins against Morgantown before beating Beckley 14-8 for the state title.
These tournaments usually come down to which team has the most arms.
Last week, Boyertown got key contributions from several young, untested pitchers in overcoming injuries to key pitchers Nate Schnell and Steve Price. The Bears will need that trend to continue at Morgantown.
"This team has showed a lot of heart," said 19-year-old shortstop Brandon Sullivan. "It's been an unbelievable ride."
Contact Don Stewart: 610-371-5065 or dstewart@readingeagle.com.
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