BOYERTOWN —
It was just one of those innings for Milton ace Cody Shaffer. But a three-run second epitomized the rest of Friday’s game for the Region 5 champions, who could not get things going and had a few breaks go against them.
When it was all said and done, Milton Legion suffered a season-ending defeat, 11-0, at the hands of 2010 state champion Spring City.
Shaffer, who started Milton’s opening-day win Tuesday against Penn Hills, went five innings and surrendered four total runs. He labored through four hit batters during his time on the mound. Pitching on just two days rest and in hot and humid weather, it appeared as though Shaffer simply ran out of gas.
Shaffer was lifted for Jeff Levitan, who came on and retired the first batter of the sixth. The reliever allowed six straight base runners on four hits and two walks while the Region 3 champions piled on four more runs during that span. Levitan, though, induced an inning-ending double play with Spring City threatening with runners at the corners.
Milton collected more hits (five) than they had in their two previous games in which they had three hits apiece. Post 71 was unable to capitalize on the few opportunities it was afforded by Spring City starting pitcher Kyle McKelvy.
Leadoff hitter Reynaldo Adames opened the game with a base hit and went to third on a single by shortstop Damian Moyer. McKelvy was able to thwart the short-lived rally by striking out the next two hitters, Jordon Bordner and Taylor Porter.
Michael Jacobs was the only other Milton hitter to reach third base. Jacobs reached on a base hit, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and took third on a single by Daniel Bridge. Milton was unable to get on the board despite a deep line drive to center by Moyer. Jacobs elected to not tag, but rather went halfway down the third-base line when the ball was hit. He had to retreat after the catch with no chance of advancement.
The game got further out of hand when Spring City added to an 8-0 lead with three more runs in the eighth. With an 11-run lead, McKelvy ended the contest early by retiring Milton in the last of the eighth.
The defeat ended a superb season for Milton. The team won the West Branch League title and followed it up with the first Region 5 championship in program history.
It was an up-and-down state tournament debut for Milton, which finished at 2-2, but it was one of the final four teams left playing in the state.
After the game, Post 71 manager Dave Byers and his coaching stuff were nothing but upbeat and continuously expressed their gratitude to their team.
“We made everything interesting. It’s been fun, and I thank you guys,” Byers told his team.
With just Adames ineligible to return next season due to age, the young team will look to improve on what has been a historic and exciting run.
In looking forward to next season, Byers set his team’s sights high, fully expecting a return to the state tournament.
“It’s going to take hard work to get back here; it’s just up to you guys,” added Byers.
With the victory, Spring City advanced to the tournament’s final day at Bear Stadium. Spring City will take on the winner of game 13 between unbeaten Doylestown and Hempfield East.
With a Doylestown victory, Spring City will remain as one of the final two teams and clinch a Mid-Atlantic National Regional Tournament berth without needing another victory. In the event of a Hempfield East win, the winner of a Spring City-Hempfield game will clinch the state’s second bid, along with Doylestown, in next week’s tournament.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Milton’s Reynaldo Adames runs toward third base in the first inning of Friday’s American Legion state tournament game with Spring City at Boyertown. Milton lost 11-0. Bruce Good
Discussion
American Legion state playoffs: Milton eliminated by Spring City
- Sports
-
-
Motorsports: Clear as a Bell
Radio voice of 500 was Indy born and bred
-
Shawn Wood's motorsports column: Sights and sounds of Indy
Carpenter's achievement, pursuit of 230, thrill fans
-
Area motorsports notebook: Ray Tilley Classic set for Sunday at Selinsgrove
Selinsgrove Speedway will honor the memory of one of Pennsylvania's greatest open-wheel drivers on Sunday with the 30-lap Ray Tilley Classic for the 410 sprint cars at 7.
-
H.S. softball: Greenwood tops UDA, returns to District 3 final
As soon as Greenwood second baseman Bree Pagen fielded Autumn Walker's grounder and flipped it to first base, the entire Wildcats team began screaming and smiling as they engulfed pitcher Brooke Louden near the first-base line.
-
Jon Gerardi's high school softball column: State berths just aren't fair
Like many folks, I got pretty excited when they released the District 4 softball playoff brackets. It's always fun when they get released. It's like a mini, local version of "Selection Sunday" for March Madness.
-
H.S. boys track: Despite hamstring injury, Shamokin sprinter claims gold at districts
By Harold Raker The Daily Item COAL TOWNSHIP -- It's been a rough senior season for Shamokin senior sprinter Matt Gass, but he was certainly glad that on a comfortable spring day earlier this week, he was still working with his coach and trainer at Kemp Memorial Stadium.
-
Harold Raker's column on track and field: Look out below
The event drew its share of chuckles and the participants became the target of some good-natured ribbing. It was the final dual meet of the season and Selinsgrove boys coach Ryan McGuire finally relented and allowed his throwers to have some fun at their own expense.
-
H.S. softball: Jon Gerardi's predictions for the district field
By Jon Gerardi The Daily Item With the first two "play-in" games officially in the books -- Wyalusing 12-2 over CMVT in 6 innings and Towanda 5-4 over Wellsboro -- the District 4 Class AA playoffs are ready to get into full swing.
-
Harold Raker's column on track and field: Look out below
The event drew its share of chuckles and the participants became the target of some good-natured ribbing. It was the final dual meet of the season and Selinsgrove boys coach Ryan McGuire finally relented and allowed his throwers to have some fun at their own expense.
-
Bob Garrett's talking points: Free fishing this Memorial Day
"It's time to lay aside business and go fishing." Memorial Day means many things to people. It's a great time to remember that our freedom was in no way, free. Here in Pennsylvania, it's also our first fish-for-free day of the year.
-
H.S. softball: Jon Gerardi's predictions for the district field
By Jon Gerardi The Daily Item With the first two "play-in" games officially in the books -- Wyalusing 12-2 over CMVT in 6 innings and Towanda 5-4 over Wellsboro -- the District 4 Class AA playoffs are ready to get into full swing.
-
Drive through our new 'Fast Lanes' auto racing website
A big Memorial Day weekend of racing is on tap this week.
Click Here to see our new "Fast Lanes" auto racing website, packed with racing news, photos, standings, schedules and much more.
-
H.S. girls lacrosse: Lewisburg routs Danville for district championship
By Anthony Mitchell For The Daily Item MIDDLEBURG -- Danville was making its first appearance in the district final. The Ironmen reached it by outlasting Selinsgrove in the semifinals and were looking to play the role of the popular, new kid and knock off Lewisburg, a perennial title contender.
-
H.S. boys lacrosse: Selinsgrove stays undefeteatd in District 4 title win
By Anthony Mitchell For The Daily Item MIDDLEBURG " Selinsgrove coach Tom Garlock mentioned after the Seals' semifinal victory against Mifflinburg last Thursday that a celebration would start with a win on Tuesday over Lewisburg.
-
H.S. girls track: Selinsgrove junior manages injuries to earn PIAA berth
By Todd Hummel For The Daily Item SELINSGROVE -- Junior Brianna Carnathan took a deep breath on Tuesday afternoon at Harold L. Bolig Memorial Field and began to talk about the different injuries that have hindered her since last year.
-
H.S. baseball: Early scoring helps Southern Columbia win playoff opener
By Marion Valanoski For The Daily Item CATAWISSA -- Matt Perry knew very little about the Southern Columbia baseball team heading into Tuesday's District 4 Class A baseball playoff opener. The Mansfield head coach was concerned after watching the host team during batting practice about the small field and the shifting wind currents.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Motorsports: Clear as a Bell
