Adam Hough and his Hellertown Legion baseball teammates faced elimination and went down swinging.
The Hellertown Legion baseball team went down swinging in a playoff elimination game against the Birches today at Dimmick Park. Hellertown’s season ended with today’s 3-0 loss as Birches won two of three games in the series and advanced to the Finals in the NORCO Legion championship.
It was a tight game with some outstanding defense and solid pitching. Will Smith threw the complete game for Hellertown while Travis VanHouten claimed the mound for Birches.
Will Smith threw a complete game for Hellertown but it wasn’t enough to get the win.
Birches scored their first run in the fourth inning on a hard infield hit with runners on first and third. With two-outs, Hellertown’s third baseman, Alstan Wolfe, was somehow able to knock down the laser-guided grounder but could not gather the ball and make the throw to first base in time. This proved to be the game winning run.
Birches scored their first run in the fourth inning.
In the top of the sixth inning Birches were able to put together a couple of timely hits. With a one-out batter reaching first base with a crisp single the next Birches slugger connected and hit a line-drive RBI triple to left-center field. Hellertown centerfielder Zach Thatcher chased the ball down as it rolled to the fence but the Birches runner beat the throw home. The sixth inning was good to Birches as they added a couple of insurance runs to close the scoring at 3-0.
The throw was not in time for Hellertown catcher Nate Kologie to make the tag.
Hellertown was eliminated from the Norco Legion tournament and their season now comes to an end. Hellertown finished the 2016 season with an impressive 17-5-1 record.
The Boys of Summer from the 2016 Hellertown Legion baseball team shake hands for the last time this season.
A “Saucon Source Shout-Out” to shortstop Adam Hough and left-fielder Matt Troyan for a few diving, acrobatic defensive gems! Your skill and entertaining efforts were noted and very much appreciated!
And, a special “Saucon Source Salute” to the entire Hellertown Legion baseball team. Congratulations on yet another successful baseball season. It is truly a quality program. You make your community proud!
