Spring Grove eliminated from Pa. legion baseball tourney

BOYERTOWN -- When Spring Grove's unforgettable American Legion baseball season came to an end on Saturday afternoon, the players took time to say goodbye.

The ones who won't return next season exchanged hugs and handshakes with the players who will return in 2014.

Together, they combined to make history this year with a pair of program firsts: a Region 4 championship and a berth in the state tournament.

The York County team continued its fine play at states, winning three of its first four games before bowing out of the double-elimination tournament with a 6-1 loss to Twin Valley on Saturday.

Twin Valley moved on to play Boyertown in the title game later in the afternoon while Spring Grove closed with a third-place finish in the eight-team event. Boyertown eventually won the state title with an 11-1 win over Twin Valley.

"I cant say enough about the way we played, and the run we had," said Spring Grove manager Matt Spangler, who announced his retirement as a manager after the game. "This one hurts, but to go out third in the state tournament is nothing to hang our heads about."

Spring Grove, which split two games on Friday, took the early lead in Saturday's contest by scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning.

Nick Spangler led off the inning with a single to right-center and moved to second when Dalton Hoiles beat out an infield single.

Following a force out on which Spangler took third, Trevor Troxel lifted a fly ball to left field which was deep enough to score Spangler.

That was it, though, offensively for Spring Grove. It managed just two hits the rest of the way against Twin Valley right-hander Tyler Sternat.

"He (Sternat) changed speeds and had us off balance," Matt Spangler said. "We had a lot of games this year where the bats go silent."

Spring Grove also received excellent pitching from its starter, Brandon Warner.

Warner worked the first seven innings and allowed two runs, but neither one was earned. The right-hander struck out one and walked two.

"I didn't try to overpower guys, I tried to hit spots and keep them off balance," Warner said. "Jonny (Spring Grove catcher Jon Gross), he couldnt have called a better game."

Twin Valley scored single runs off Warner in the fifth and sixth innings, but both runners who scored reached on errors.

"I trust my defense," Warner said. "We're human, we make mistakes."

Warner, the team's starting shortstop, didn't get a lot of work on the mound this season for a team deep in pitchers.

"Brandon, that was a gutsy effort," Matt Spangler said. "He pitched his heart out and probably deserved the win."

Spring Grove was in striking distance to seize the victory until Twin Valley's Izzack Albright crushed a two-out grand slam in the top of the ninth inning. The ball cleared the right-field fence between the 320 and 350 signs.

Nick Spangler collected two of Spring Grove's four hits.

Spangler's teammate, Levi Krause, who finished 1-for-4, was robbed of a second hit by Twin Valley third baseman Matt McInaw, who made a diving stop of Krause's hard grounder down the line and threw out the Spring Grove standout at first.

Krause also made solid contact in the sixth inning with runners on first and second and one out.

"As soon as I hit it, I thought, 'sweet, someone is going to score,'" Krause said. "Then, I saw it (the ball) was right at the shortstop. (Twin Valley then turned an inning-ending double play). "This is my luck"

Spring Grove finished its breakthrough season with a 22-10 record. After a 10-5 record in the York-Adams regular season, it won 12 of its final 17 games.

"This (season) was incredible," Krause said. "I've never been with a closer group of guys. Making states was our goal, and we were in the winners' bracket final (Spring Grove bowed, 8-7, to Boyertown in that game on Friday)."

Reach Dick VanOlinda at dvanolinda@yorkdispatch.com

Source: http://www.yorkdispatch.com/ci_23788611/updates-from-spring-grove-twin-valley-legion-baseball?source=rss_viewed

edgar rice burroughs dallas clark litter marinol flight attendant pau gasol trade michael madsen