Schuykill-Berks tops LV in Legion All-Star game

READING - Runs were difficult to come by for Lehigh Valley in Monday's All-Star legion baseball game at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading.

The pitching staff for Schuykill-Berks combined to allow just one Lehigh Valley run on six hits in a 7-1 victory.

"I think the wood bats definitely played a role in it," said Northern Valley's Tyler Harris. "Playing all season - all high school and legion season - with aluminum then going straight to wood definitely makes a change."

Schuykill-Berks led 3-0 heading into the fifth inning when Fullerton's Nate Harris sparked the offense for Lehigh Valley. A leadoff triple to right-center field by Harris put Lehigh Valley in scoring position with no outs. Two batters later, Salisbury's Justin Aungst grounded out to third base, but Harris scored on the play.

Lehigh Valley threatened to cut the deficit in the sixth inning after David Pisauro and Ruddy Rosario started off the inning with back-to-back walks. West End's Christopher Czonstka was hit in the head by a pitch that loaded the bases with two outs, but Lehigh Valley failed to bring any runners home in the inning.

"It's definitely something difficult to see," said Harris. "You're always taught 'get em on, get em over, get em in'. That was a little heartbreaking to see that."

"We all definitely still had hope," said Harris. "It was only the sixth inning."

Schuykill-Berks padded their lead with four runs in the all-but-meaningless bottom of the ninth as it was played to allow all the Lehigh Valley pitchers an opportunity to showcase their talent.

Despite the scoreboard these players were glad to just have the opportunity to come out and compete with local players on the same team.

"Playing in these kind of stadiums is great," said Harris. "The friendships I just made today [and] the kids I met for the first time."

Coplay's Chirstian Marcin participated in the all-star game and pitched two-thirds of the eighth inning for Lehigh Valley. He recorded a strikeout and got both batters out he faced

Second baseman Harris, along with fellow Northern Valley pitcher, Tyler Hill, also participated in the game. Harris finished the game going 0-for-1 with a hit by pitch. Hill pitched the scoreless fifth inning and allowed two walks.

Two local players, outfielder Jordan Heisler and pitcher Mike Streissel of Tamaqua, represented Schuykill-Berks in the game. Streissel pitched a scoreless sixth inning with two strikeouts. Heisler walked in his first plate appearance and flied out to centerfield in the seventh inning.

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Schuy.-Berks100 200 004 7 10 1