West clinches
Published: July 29, 2010
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andy matsko/TIMES-SHAMROCK PHOTO Schuylkill South catch Danny Blugis, left, dives to tag out Schuylkill West's Devin Masser during the July 24 VFW Area 2 Teener League 13-14-year-old all-star championship series game. The West won, 8-2, to sweep the best-of-3 series.
andy matsko/TIMES-SHAMROCK PHOTO Schuylkill West's Hunter Bordner pitched a complete game in his team's 8-2 win over Schuylkill South.
PINE GROVE - Schuylkill West didn't want to wait another day to clinch the VFW Area 2 Teener Baseball 13-14-year-old championship series.
After taking a one-game lead in the best-of-3 series on July 23, Schuylkill West felt the need to get an early jump on Schuylkill South in the second game to clinch the title and avoid a third and deciding game.
Schuylkill West got the early offensive start it wanted and pitcher Hunter Bordner more than made it stand up for an 8-2 victory on July 24 and a sweep for the Area 2 championship.
Both Schuylkill West and Schuylkill South advance to the VFW State Teener Tournament at Lower Dauphin. Schuylkill West (4-0) will open play at 9:30 a.m. Friday against the Area 3 champion. Schuylkill South (2-2) meets the hosts at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
Schuylkill West used a 10-hit attack to support the complete-game pitching of Bordner, who came within an out in the seventh inning of tossing a shutout.
"Hunter is a well-seasoned player," Schuylkill West manager Mike Sedesse said. "We played good defense and he threw strikes."
Schuylkill West also gave Bordner a lead to work with by scoring three runs each in the second and third innings, and two runs in the fourth.
The team took a 3-0 lead in the second when Steve Zimmerman led off with a walk and Cale Bruso followed with a single. It set up an RBI double by Jarrod McCabe, an RBI ground out to second by Jesse Fisher and a run-scoring single by Steve Sedesse.
Schuylkill West doubled its lead in the third when Devin Masser, Bordner and Matt Roberts each singled to lead the bases. Zimmerman followed with a bases-loaded walk, and Chad Purcell and McCabe followed with RBI singles.
"It was a very good tournament," Sedesse said. "I thought the key was them having to play three games in a row. We figured if we could get up on them early, the mental fatigue would set it."
Schuylkill West also took advantage of three Schuylkill South errors in the fourth to build an 8-0 lead.
"We still think we have a good ball club and we will work on things this week in practice," Schuylkill South manager Scott Swoyer. "We'll be ready to represent our area on Friday at states. Hunter was a tough pitcher today. Once they got him the lead, he just kept throwing strikes."
Schuylkill South finally broke through for two-runs in the seventh inning to avoid the shutout when Shane Grapsy drew a bases-loaded walk and Vinny Fanelli added an RBI single.
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