State Preview: Pennridge

FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGION BASEBALL WEBSITE

Part two of the eight part state preview series. We'll post the rest in the days leading up to the tournament.





Region: 2

League: Bux-Mont League, second place regular season, postseason champion

Record: 25-7-1



Pennridge heads to Boyertown after a thrilling championship round that saw some of the craziest postseason moments so far in the state. After a second place finish in the always grueling Bux-Mont League in southeastern PA, Pennridge gutted out a league championship. Perennial power and longtime rival, Nor-Gwyn, had bowed out of the tournament in two games, leaving the door wide open for Pennridge.



With two bids in the region two tournament, both Pennridge and Nor-Gwyn were able to represent the league as the postseason and regular season champions, respectively. Pennridge wasted no time resuming their winning ways in the first round of the tournament, topping Nazareth 11-10. North Parkland couldn’t put up much of a fight against them, with a nineteen to one thrashing putting Pennridge into the winner’s bracket final.



The winner’s bracket final is where they met Kutztown, the Schuylkill-Berks champion, a team that had been on fire this season. Pennridge slowed their winning streak, beating them by five and earning a championship game bid. Familiar foe Nor-Gwyn awaited them in the so called throw away game. A victory would not only force a team to beat them twice on the final day, but would also put the final nail in the coffin for their fellow league member. Unfazed with the task at hand, an 11-5 win improved their record to 4-0 in the tournament.



That’s when things got crazy. Pennridge led Kutztown, in a rematch between the two teams, needing just a few more outs for a state tournament berth. The wheels fell off in the eighth inning,when the Cougars rallied for thirteen runs. In some cruel twist of fate, Pennridge went from the brink of a championship to getting ten-runned in a matter of minutes. That’s why you have to love the unpredictable nature of the game.



It would be no easy feat to rebound and recollect themselvesfor a third meeting between the teams, just moments after the conclusion of the shocking game fourteen. Displaying the heart of champions, Pennridge took care of business and cruised to the region two title with a seven run victory.



Pennridge, though inexperienced in the state playoffs, has all of the intangibles to win this week’s tournament. Their pitching is more than enough to get them through, and if they keep hitting the way they have been, they won’t need to rely too heavily on it. They’ll have to deal with the jitters that surround such a prestigious level of play. They may have caught a break in that regardby drawing the first game of the tournament, when the crowds are more sparse and they can concentrate on playing their game.



Pennridge will take on Danville in game one, which commencesthe tournament at approximately 9:30am on Tuesday morning.

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