West Mifflin Legion wins Region 6 title
West Mifflin ran the table in the Region 6 American Legion Baseball Tournament hosted by Connellsville at Thomas E. Sankovich Field, winning the title Wednesday with a doubleheader sweep.
West Mifflin defeated Blackhawk, 7-5, in the semifinal, and then came right back to down Moon in eight innings, 12-2. Moon advanced to the title game by defeating Uniontown, 13-7, in the first game of the day.
West Mifflin jumped out early against Moon, scoring five runs in the top of the first.
“It’s our West Mifflin curse. Every game is the same story,” said Moon manager Tyler George, whose team finished the season with a 17-7 record. “We let them jump out early and they are so fundamentally sound on offense and defense, it’s hard to catch up.
“The do a very good job hitting into the gap. You have to bring your ‘A’ game when you play them.”
West Mifflin added another run in the top of the fourth, but Moon countered with a run in the bottom of the inning.
The visitors pulled away in the top of the fifth inning with five runs. The big hit was Derek Morrison’s bases-loaded double.
Moon avoided the 10-run mercy rule with a run in the bottom of the sixth, but West Mifflin put the game away with a single run in the top of the eighth inning.
Brandon Donovan and Ryan Kansberger had doubles and Donovan added a triple as part of West Mifflin’s 17-hit attack.
Luke Hils went the distance for the win.
“We’re 24-0. That’s an accomplishment in any league,” said West Mifflin manager Tom Simcho. “I’m so proud of them. I’ve been with most of these kids for six years, to see the fruition of a lot of hard work.
“We came up one game short last year and two games short two years ago.”
The difference is such a concentrated tournament is a pitching staff.
“Nobody has the pitching like we do. That’s the difference in a tournament like this,” said Simcho.
Cody Gross was the winning pitcher against Blackhawk. Donovan had a pair of doubles. Morrison, Jake Liposky and Kandsberger also doubled.
Rich Rowe and Adam Robinson doubled for Blackhawk.