State Preview: Upper Dauphin

FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGION BASEBALL WEBSITE

Region: 4



League: Dauphin County, postseason champion



Record: 22-2



Upper Dauphin won south-central Pennsylvania’s Dauphin County League championship, earning a berth in the Region 4 Tournament. Once there, they proved that they could win games of all sorts. They outhit and outpitched every other team in the region throughout the course of the tournament.



They started their championship run against a very solid team in Lebanon County champion Campbelltown. They quickly made their presence known with a 10-1 victory in game threeof the tournament. Upper Dauphin advanced into the winner’s bracket, where a showdown with York County champ Southwestern York awaited. Again, they put double-digit runs, en route to another big win, this time by seven runs,11-4.



Weather threw a bit of a curveball at the Dauphin County representatives, it temporarily postponed their matchup in the winner’s bracket final with Lancaster County champion Penn Manor. They came back early on Tuesday, knowing full well that’d they have to play two games in the sweltering heat, win or lose. By the end of the day, they could be eliminated, still alive, or in to the championship round.



In their toughest contest of the week, they topped Penn Manor by a 2-1 score. Later that evening, Campbelltown rallied to get a bit of revenge against them in the throwaway game. They suffered their lone loss of the tournament, losing it 9-6. Campbelltown went on to top Southwestern York 8-7, forcing a decisive third game for the tournament championship.



Capitalizing on Campbelltown’s long day, Upper Dauphin jumped all over them for the biggest win of their season, taking the game11-3. Not only had they made it through the tournament, but they did so by going through the toughest part of the bracket. Three of the final four teams hailed from their side, a testament to how well the team played during the week.



Region four has not enjoyed a great deal of success recently in the state tournament. Judging by how well they played against some very talented teams in the past few weeks, Upper Dauphin certainly has what it takes to reverse that trend. They have proven that they can run away from teams, and also win the close ones. Wins that like will prepare them for the big state of the state tournament.



They have a very daunting task ahead of themselves, as they will take on Region 6 champion Hopewell in game two of the tournament. They’ll attempt to be just the second team this year to slow down western PA’s top team. If they win, the road gets no easier, as perennial powers State College and host Boyertown loom in a second round matchup.

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