Boyertown 5, Bristol 1 (Game 1); Bristol 11, Boyertown 3 (Game 2)

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Drew Markol Staff Writer Calkins Media, Inc. | 0 comments

WEST LAWN — They’d won 12 straight.

They were one victory away from winning their first Pennsylvania State American Legion championship.

And they couldn’t wait to play.

“We couldn’t even sleep (Friday night) in our hotel,” Bristol shortstop Matt Petrizzi said. “We were so excited to get started.”

But when they did start, Boyertown ended their streak in Game 1 by winning, 5-1, at Owls Field at Ted Palka Park.

That made things interesting.

Suddenly, it became a one-game, winner-take-all event in the nightcap. Post 382 was looking for its first state title, and the Bears, a long-time power, were looking for their 23rd.

“I wish there wasn’t even a break between games,” Bristol pitcher Steve Arthur said. “We wanted to get going because nobody can beat us twice.”

Arthur was right, and he proved it by going the distance in what turned out to be an 11-3 triumph for Bristol that set off a wild celebration after the final out.

“I don’t think our kids were intimidated at all by Boyertown,” Bristol manager Tim Monaghan said. “Boyertown is a very good team and they’re similar to Yardley Western in our league with the way they play the game.

“Having a team like Western in our league helped us get ready for playing really good teams in the tournaments.”

Post 382 almost made it look easy in the second game, as it pounded out 18 hits and had six players with at least two hits.

A four-run sixth, which included RBIs from Dave Blount, Petrizzi and Tom Harman (plus an error by the Bears that allowed another run to score), gave Bristol a 6-1 lead and some breathing room. Add in a three-run eighth, highlighted by Blount’s fourth RBI of the game, and that all but closed the book on the Bears.

And, with the way Arthur was pitching, it seemed unlikely that Boyertown would be able to mount a comeback.

Arthur, 9-0 on the season and 2-0 here with a 1.59 ERA in 17 innings, did allow 13 hits, but continually made big pitches when he had to. A pair of double plays behind him didn’t hurt, either.

“Our defense is so good,” said Arthur, who was honored as the tournament’s top pitcher. “If the ball is hit on the ground, they roll it, and if it’s in the air, they catch it. That makes a pitcher feel good.”

Arthur admitted that his arm was a little sore, but he wasn’t going to let on.

“My arm was throbbing in the bullpen, I threw 135 pitches three days ago,” Arthur said. “But when they asked me how I felt, I said I was fine. Then the adrenaline kicked in in the fourth inning and I was fine.

“This is just a great feeling. My dad wanted to be here today but couldn’t make it, and I want to share this with him.”

Up next for Post 382 will be an opening-round game against the Maryland state champion in the Mid-Atlantic Tournament that begins Thursday at Boyertown.

The Bears, as hosts of the Mid-Atlantic, would have received an automatic berth into the tournament, but went out and earned one by finishing second.

“I was happy that we finished second in a good tournament,” Boyertown manager Rick Moatz said. “Bristol is a very good team and we gave it all we had.

“I think in reality, we just didn’t have the pitching depth to shut them down anymore.”

Bristol could do little in Game 1 against Boyertown righty Steve Price, who went the distance in a 5-1 win.

And when Post 382 did try to start something offensively, Price worked out of it.

Boyertown took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, marking the first time in this tournament that Bristol trailed. Post 471 tacked on three more runs in the sixth to all but seal things.

Post 382 scored its lone run in the eighth, thanks to a two-out single by Ryan Hires. Bristol did put two runners on with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but couldn’t capitalize.

The bigger issue for Bristol in the opener was its inability to push across any runs in the fourth or fifth.

In both innings, while only trailing 1-0, Post 382 put a runner on second with no outs only to leave him stranded.

Notes: Boyertown’s Nos. 1 through 4 hitters went a combined 2-for-16 in the first game, a testament to how well the bottom of its order performed. ... The first game was played in 2 hours, 17 minutes. ...Blackhawk beat West Lawn, 9-6, Saturday in the game for third place to earn the final spot at Mid-Atlantics. ...Bristol catcher Brian Beyer was named the tournament MVP.

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