The pairings for the Region 5 (Great Lakes) national tournament's first round (Thursday, August 6) have been published:

Game 1 ... 11 AM EDT ... Midland, MI, vs. Sandusky, OH

Game 2 ... 2 PM EDT ... NOR-GWYN vs. Rochester, MN

Game 3 ... 6 PM EDT ... Wassau, WI, vs. Hammond, IN

Game 4 ... 9 PM EDT ... Palatine, IL, vs. Appleton, WI (host team)

Follow the games pitch-by-pitch at http://www.baseball.legion.org.  (You may click on the heading, above.)

At 12:45 AM Saturday, the Boyertown Bears scored in the 11th inning of Game 13 to eliminate Norchester, 4-3.  This sets up a re-match of Boyertown and Nor-Gwyn, this time for the Pennsylvania championship (Saturday, 12:30 PM and immediately following, if necessary).

The two teams will advance to the Mid-Atlantic Regional in Morgantown, WV, or the Great Lakes Regional in Appleton, WI.

The Nor-Gwyn Hawks defeated Mifflin County (again), this time by a score of 6-5, in the bottom of the ninth inning.  The game was delayed by rain for more than two hours.

The Hawks will now sit by to see how the Boyertown Bears fare against Norchester in Game 13, beginning after 10:00 Friday night because of the earlier rain.  Should the Bears defeat Norchester, the Hawks would advance to a national regional along with Boyertown.  If Norchester prevails, Nor-Gwyn would play an elimination game (#14) against Norchester at 12:30 PM Saturday.

Nor-Gwyn lost to host team Boyertown, 3-2, Thursday night, in Game 11 of the state championship tournament.  Boyertown remains undefeated and therefore advances to Game 13 Friday night, when they will play Chester County's Norchester at 7:30 PM.

Meanwhile, the Hawks remain alive with one loss, and will play an elimination game Friday at 4:00 PM against previous foe Millcreek, whom they handled, 10-0, in Game 1.  A Nor-Gwyn win, coupled with a Boyertown win, would guarantee the Hawks a national regional tournament berth.

In a rain-delayed game, Nor-Gwyn defeated Chester County's traditional powerhouse Norchester, 7-5, to advance to Game 11 against the winner of postponed Game 8.  A Nor-Gwyn win in Game 11 would guarantee the Hawks a berth in a national regional tournament, since Pennyslvania is allotted two teams at that level.

Because of repeated Wednesday rain delays, Game 8 between Hummelstown and host Boyertown has been postponed to Thursday morning at 9:30 AM.

NOR-GWYN will play Mifflin County in Game 1 of the state tournament at Boyertown.  The tourney begins at 9:45 AM Tuesday, July 28.  In the first round:

Game 1 ... 9:45 AM ... Nor-Gwyn vs. Mifflin County

Game 2 ... approx.  1:00 PM ... Plum vs. Hummelstown

Game 3 ... 4:00 PM ... Norchester vs. Mill Creek

Game 4 ... approx. 7:30 PM ... Boyertown vs. Plymouth-Grontkowski

For ongoing schedule and results, see Calendar (at left). 

Because of of steady, heavy rain, Game 15 of the Region 2 tournament between the Nor-Gwyn Hawks and the Boyertown Bears was called after six innings with the score tied, 2-2.  It will not be continued or replayed, since both teams qualify for next week's state tournament anyway.  Therefore, Nor-Gwyn and  Boyertown were declared co-champions.

Stay tuned for news about the state tourney at Boyertown.  It begins on Tuesday, July 28.

With a 15-9 elimination win over Nazareth, the Nor-Gwyn Hawks automatically qualify for the state tournament next week in Boyertown, by virtue of the fact that Boyertown is the state tournament's host team, and the two are the only teams "left standing" in the Region 2 event.  Nor-Gwyn later lost to Boyertown in Game 14, 8-2, and will face them again Friday morning for the Region 2 title.

Earlier in the day, Boyertown avenged an earlier loss to Hatfield, eliminating them with a 10-6 loss in Game 12.

With a convincing 9-4 win in Game 11 Monday night, the Nor-Gwyn Hawks remain undefeated and move on to Game 13 against Boyertown (7:30 PM Tuesday).  Hatfield, meanwhile, remains alive, and will face Nazareth Tuesday at 4:00 PM.

In  earlier action, Boyertown eliminated Tamaqua in Game 10, while Nazareth ended Twin Valley's season in Game 9.

Hatfield and Nor-Gwyn were each come-from-behind, last-inning winners, defeating Nazareth and Tamaqua, respectively, on Sunday.  Boyertown and Twin Valley, both from the Berks League, each won lose-or-go-home games and remain alive in the Region 2 tournament.

Monday's games line up like this:

12:30 PM ... Game 9 ... Twin Valley vs. Nazareth (loser eliminated)

4:00 PM ... Game 10 ... Boyertown vs. Tamaqua (loser eliminated)

7:30 PM ... Game 11 ... Hatfield vs. Nor-Gwyn

Sunday's results insure that a Bux Mont League team will play for the regional championship on Wednesday.

In Region 2 tournament action Saturday, Hatfield knocked off perennial Berks powerhouse Boyertown, 13-3 in a game shortened by the ten-run "mercy" rule.  Hatfield moves on in the Winners' Bracket to Game 7 Sunday, when they take on Northampton's Nazareth, who defeated Lehigh's South Parkland, 7-6, in ten innings in Game 3.

Not to be outdone, host Nor-Gwyn handled Berks' regular-season champion Twin Valley, also by the "mercy" rule, 12-1, in the late game Saturday.  The Hawks advance to Game 8 against Schuylkill's Tamaqua on Sunday.  Tamaqua earlier defeated Northampton's Kemp Post in Game 2, 18-12.

So, the lineup for Sunday, July 19, looks like this:

9:45 AM ... Game 5 (Loser's Bracket) ... Boyertown vs. South Parkland

1:00 PM ... Game 6 (Losers' Breacket)  ... Kemp Post vs. Twin Valley

4:00 PM ... Game 7 (Winners' Bracket) ... Hatfield vs. Nazareth

7:30 PM ... Game 8 (Winners' Beracket) ... Nor-Gwyn Hawks vs. Tamaqua

Here are the brackets for the upcoming Region 2 Tournament, beginning Saturday, July 18, at the Nor-Gwyn complex:

Saturday:

9:30 AM ... Game 1 ... HATFIELD (Bux Mont tournament champion) vs. Boyertown (Berks tournament champion))

12:45 PM ... Game 2 ... Kemp Post (Northampton #2) vs. Tamaqua (Schuylkill)

3:45 PM ... Game 3 ... Nazareth (Northampton #1) vs. South Parkland (Lehigh)

7:00 PM ... Game 4 ... Twin Valley (Berks regular-season champion) vs. NOR-GWYN (host team)

See Calendar for subsequent pairings as they're announced.

... Scott Christy of the Hatfield club !!

Congratulations to Scott, who will be receiving a certificate from the League, as well as the coveted Jerry "Ben" Hostelly Trophy.

Two outstanding Bux Mont League athletes have advanced to the final round of the State All-Star Showcase:

Lou Trivino ... Pennridge

Tim Mayza ... Perkiomen

Although both are advancing as pitchers , they are both well known around the League as versatile players who each played several different positions during the 2009 season.

Lou and Tim will show their stuff in front of numerous MLB scouts and college coaches at Riverside Stadium in Harrisburg on July 25 and 26.

The 2009 Bux Mont All-League Teams were selected by vote of the League's managers on July 12:

First Team:  Pitchers Eric Ruth (Hatfield) and Lou Trivino (Pennridge); Catcher Matt Albaugh (Hatfield); First Baseman Scott Christy (Hatfield); Second Baseman Dylan Tice (Pennridge); Third Baseman Tyler Russ (Pottstown Steelers); Shortstop Rob Zinsmeister (Hatfield); Outfielders Justin Davey (Nor-Gwyn Hawks), Chris Edgar (Hatfield), and Mat Frei (Quakertown); and Utility Player Ray Puskar (Pennridge).

Second Team: Pitchers Mike Bradstreet (Nor-Gwyn Hawks) and Tim Mayza (Perkiomen); Catcher Dan Wolfe (Pennridge); First Baseman Lou Trivino (Pennridge); Second Baseman Jordan Force (Perkiomen); Third Basemen Jon Gyles (Doylestown) and Kurtis Roberts (Quakertown); Shortstop Eric Kammler (Pennridge); Outfielders Jake Dunn (Hatfield), Alex Latchum (Warrington A's), Ron Levan (Pottstown Steelers), and Tim Mayza (Perkiomen); and Utility Player Kevin Fink (Hatfield).

Honorable Mention:  Pitchers Bill Keyte (Hatfield) and Kyle Regensburg (Pottstown Steelers); Catcher Joe Mullin (Doylestown); First Baseman Robert Teufel (Perkiomen); Second Baseman Luke Helm (Quakertown); Shortstop Ben Eckroth (Pottstown); Outfielders Eric Blood (Pennridge), Christian Radick (Hatfield), and Colin Weiss (Perkiomen); and Utility Player Tim Mayza (Perkiomen).

The 2009 Bux Mont Player of the Year will be announced tomorrow.

Hatfield completed a perfect Bux Mont League playoff tournament by defeating Doylestown, 10-0, in Game #14.  The game was halted in the bottom of the seventh inning by the ten-rule "mercy" rule.  Hatfield now goes on to compete in the 2009 Region 2 Tournament, starting off with Berks Team #1 (TBD) at 9:30 AM on Saturday, July 18, at Jerry "Ben" Hostelley Field at the Nor-Gwyn complex.

See Calendar for more details on the Region 2 event.

Only top-seeded Hatfield, a 11-10 winner over #8 Quakertown in Game #13, and #5 Doylestown remain.  They will face off in Game #14 (and, if necessary, Game #15) on Monday at Quakertown Stadium.  Hatfield, thusfar undefeated in tournament play, will have two opportunities to win and advance to the Region 2 tournament next weekend.

Doylestown had earlier eliminated second seeded Pennridge, 9-8, in Game #12.

In Saturday play:

Pennridge downed Perkiomen, 15-14, with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning, to advance to Game #11 vs. Hatfield (7:00 PM Saturday at Quakertown).  This was a continuation of a tied game begun Friday night and stopped by darkness.

Perkiomen then drove up to Quakertown to take on the Quakertown club, who eliminated them with a 9-4 win. Quakertown next plays Hatfield at either 3:00 PM or 7:00 PM Sunday (see below).

In Game #10 , Doylestown knocked off Pottstown, 19-5, to advance to Game #12 or #13 vs. Pennridge.

Game #11 between Pennridge and Hatfield had to be halted in the bottom of the eighth inning because of severe thunderstorms, with Hatfield in the lead, 7-4.  The game wil be resumed at 1:00 PM Sunday, with the loser playing at 3:00 PM in Game #12; the winner will play at 7:00 PM.

In second-round action Friday night:

Quakertown defeated Nor-Gwyn, 16-3, thereby eliminating Nor-Gwyn.  The Hawks will, however, go on to represent the League in the upcoming Region 2 tournament as its Host Team.  Quakertown moves on to Game #10 at 11:00 AM Saturday.

Hatfield downed Doylestown, 21-7, to advance to Game #11 at Quakertown Stadium, at 7:00 PM Saturday.  Doylestown remains alive, next playing the Pottstown Steelers in Game #10 at 3:00 PM Saturday.

Pottstown gave Souderton its second and final loss, 8-7

In a wild one, the Perkiomen-Pennridge game was halted by darkness in the eighth inning with the score tied, 14-14.  This game will be concluded Saturday morning at 9:00 AM at Pennridge, with the winner advancing to Game #11 vs. Hatfield.  The loser of the suspended game will have to hustle up to Quakertown to meet the Quakertown club at 11:00 AM.

In first round playoff action:

#1 Hatfield defeated #8 Quakertown, 15-7, at School Road Park.  Hatfield next hosts Game 7 vs. #5 Doylestown at 7:00 PM Friday, while Quakertown travels to #4 Nor-Gwyn for Game 5 at 6:00 PM Friday.

#2 Pennridge defeated #7 Souderton, 10-4, at Kulp Playground.  Pennridge next takes on #6 Perkiomen at home at 5:30 PM Friday, while Souderton travels to #3 Pottstown for Game 6 (6:00 PM Friday).

Doylestown upset Nor-Gwyn, 2-1, at Hostelley Field to advance to Game 7 at Hatfield (7:00 PM Friday).  Nor-Gwyn hosts Quakertown in Game 5.

Perkiomen was a 7-3 upset winner over Pottstown at "Pat" Sundstrom Field.  Perkiomen visits Pennridge Friday.

The 2009 Bux Mont League's double-elimination playoff tournament is set to begin on Thursday, July 9, at four locations.  The tournament will continue Friday, July 10, at four locations, and conclude at Quakertown Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, July 11-13.

Top-seeded Hatfield will host #8 Quakertown, while #2 Pennridge hosts #7 Souderton, #3 Pottstown hosts #6 Perkiomen, and #4 Nor-Gwyn hosts #5 Doylestown.

The tournament champion will go on to compete in the Region 2 tournament at Nor-Gwyn's Hostelley Field, to begin on Saturday, July 18.  Our Nor-Gwyn will host the event, and is therefore guaranteed a berth.  Should Nor-Gwyn win the Bux Mont tourney, our runner-up would go to the Region 2 event.

With a record of 18-2 through July 6, Hatfield has sewn up the 2009 regular-season Bux Mont League championship and the top seed in our upcoming tournament.

Hatfield has one game remaining (July 8), and then will host #8 seed Quakertown in playoff Game 1 Thursday evening.

Three outstanding Bux Mont League athletes have been named to compete in the All-East game of the Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball All-Star Showcase series.  They will show off their talents at Harrisburg's Commerce Bank Park on Wednesday, July 15.

Selected were:  Timothy Mayza (Perkiomen), Joseph Mullin (Doylestown), and Louis Trivino (Pennridge).

At Saturday night's Bux Mont League All-Star Game, G.M. "Rocky" Wright, son of the late Mel Wright, long-time Bux Mont League coach, President, and Commissioner, announced and awarded the eighth annual Mel Wright Awards.  Recipients were as follows:

Sean Toland (Lansdale Cannoneers), Andrew Wetmore (Doylestown), Carl Motts (Hatfield), Brian Palm (Nor-Gwyn Hawks), Adam Kammler (Pennridge), Robert Teufel (Perkiomen), Mike Damm (Plumstead), Tyler Russ (Pottstown Steelers), Cody Whitehead (Quakertown), Wade Slotter (Silver Creek Orioles), Brett Moyer (Souderton), and Dan Bergvall (Warrington A's).

This year's Bux Mont League All-Star Game was held on a beautiful night at Hatfield's School Road Park, with the Bucks sqaud defeating their counterparts from Montgomery County, 6-2.  The game was well attended by a hundred or so parents and fans, as well as several college coaches.

Rosters for the 2009 Bux Mont League All-Star Game were as follows:

For the Bucks squad:  Pitchers Phil Bain (Quakertown), Rich Delgado and Rob Spragis (Warrington A's), Kyle Myers and Lou Trivino (Pennridge), Wade Slotter (Silver Creek Orioles), and Tim Wessel (Plumstead); Catchers Adam Kammler and Dan Wolfe (Pennridge); First Basemen Tyler Farrell (Plumstead) and Lou Trivino (Pennridge); Second Basemen Gary Kleinschmidt (Warrington A's), Ryan Sparks (Plumstead), and Dylan Tice (Pennridge); Third Basemen Bryce Frankenfield and Ray Puskar (Pennridge) and Kurtis Roberts (Quakertown); Shortstops Luke Helm (Quakertown) and Eric Kammler (Pennridge); Utility Player Alex Hager (Pennridge); and Outfielders Eric Blood (Pennridge), and Mike Damm, Keith Reis (Plumstead), Mat Frei and Don Kornitski (Quakertown), and Alex Latchem and Kyle McLaughlin (Warrington A's).

For the Montgomery squad:  Pitchers Christian Berry (Lansdale Cannoneers), Mike Bradstreet and Pat Carbone (Nor-Gwyn Hawks), Bill Keyte and Carl Motts (Hatfield), and Kyle Regensberg and Jimmy Schaaf (Pottstown Steelers); Catchers Matt Albaugh (Hatfield), Craig Lepre (Nor-Gwyn Hawks), and Tim Maloney (Souderton); First Basemen Scott Christy (Hatfield) and Robert Teufel (Perkiomen); Second Basemen Matt Cohen (Pottstown) and Jordan Force (Perkiomen); Third Baseman Kevin Fink (Hatfield) and Tyler Russ (Pottstown Steelers); Shortstops Ben Eckroth (Pottstown Steelers), Andrew Farris (Perkiomen), and Rob Zinsmeister (Hatfield); and Outfielders Eric Broney (Souderton), Steve Dale and Justin Davey (Nor-Gwyn Hawks), Jake Dunn and Chris Edgar (Hatfield), Ronnie Levan (Pottstown Steelers), Tim Mayza (Perkiomen), and Jurell Smalls (Lansdale Cannoneers).

This year's game was hosted by the Hatfield club, which provided a fully-stocked snack stand and programs, and had commemorative T-shirts for sale.

At the first round of the State All-Star Showcase series held at the Nor-Gwyn complex on June 21, five outstanding Bux Mont League All-Stars were selected by a panel of Major League Baseball scouts and college coaches to advance to the next round at Salisbury on July 1:

Pitchers Tim Mayza (Perkiomen) and Louis Trivino (Pennridge); Catcher Joe Mullin (Doylestown); First Baseman Ian Whelan (Hatfield); and Colin Weiss (Perkiomen).

The Bux Mont League's selections for the first round of the Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball All-Star Showcase, as selected by the League's managers, are as follows:

Pitchers Tim Mayza (Perkiomen) and Louis Trivino (Pennridge); Catchers Craig Lepre (Nor-Gwyn Hawks) and Joe Mullin (Doylestown); First Baseman Ian Whelan (Hatfield); Second Baseman Dylan Tice (Pennridge); Shortstop Daniel Happ (Warrington A's); Third Baseman Kurtis Roberts (Quakertown); and Outfielders William Erskine (Hatfield), Peter Leatherman (Pennridge), and Colin Weiss (Perkiomen).

The first round will be conducted rain or shine at the Nor-Gwyn complex beginning at 11 AM on Sunday, June 21.  Players selected to advance to the second round will be headed up to Salisbury on July 1.

The 2009 playing schedule was completed at the League's annual scheduling meeting on March 15.  Each club will play a 22-game schedule, beginning May 19, culminating in our playoff tournament, July 9-13.  The Region 2 Tournament, to be hosted by our own Nor-Gwyn club, begins on July 18.

Managers  are reminded that rosters must be turned in on Sunday, May 17, at the Nase-Kraft American Legion Post in Sellersville, beginning at 7:00 PM.

The Bux Mont League's scheduling meeting will be held at 7 PM on Sunday, March 15, at the Nase-Kraft American Legion Post in Sellersville.  Naturally, EVERY team must be represented and prepared to commit to its twenty-two playing dates that evening.  The 2009 schedule will be distributed and posted here shortly thereafter.  Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball entry and insurance forms, accompanied by the appropriate state and League fees, are due at or before that meeting.

Our 2009 roster turn-in meeting will take place on Sunday night, May 17, starting at 7 PM ... it will also be at the Nase-Kraft American Legion Post. At a minimum, clubs must bring with them:  (1) Rosters, (2) contracts for all players, new or returning, (3) ID cards for returning players and original birth certificates for new players, (4) umpire fees, (5) yellow copies of insurance forms, and (6) ID card fees for new players.

With the Pennsylvania championship under its belt, the Boyertown Bears head to Colonial Heights, VA, to take on the best of Mid-Atlantic Region 2:  Edison (NJ), Newark (DE), Colonial Heights (host), South Richmond (VA), Gaithersburg (MD), Morgantown (WV), and Anaconda (NY).

Also advancing was northwestern Pennsylvania's Bradford club, which travels to Great Lakes Region 5 in Chillicothe, OH, to play the champions of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin., plus Minnesota's runner-up and the host team.

Both tourneys begin on Thursday, August 14.  You can follow the results at http://www.baseball.legion.org/.

Bradford, northwestern Pennsylvania's entry in the state tournament, defeated Hatfield, 4-2, on Thursday, to bring to an end Hatfield's season.  Bradford now moves on to either Game #12 or #13, depending upon the outcomes of Game #10 and #11.

With a late-inning loss to Pittsburgh-area's Plum, Hatfield falls to the Losers' Bracket, and will next play Region 8's Bradford in an elimination game at 12:30 PM Thursday.  Plum advances to the Winners Bracket Final, a/k/a Game #11, against host team Boyertown, at 7:30 PM Thursday.  Boyertown defeated Region 7's Hollidaysburg.

Hollidaysburg will face Region' 3's Norchester in the other elimination game at 4:00 PM.

Behind the outstanding pitching of Kevin Christy, Hatfield defeated Region 3's perennial powerhouse Norchester, 3-2, to advance to Game #7 of the Pennsylvania tournament at 4:00 PM Wednesday against a strong Pittsburgh-area club, Plum.

In other first-day action, Plum defeated Lititz (south-central PA), 10-4; Hollidaysburg (north-central PA) downed Bradford (northwestern PA), 12-0, in seven innings; and host Boyertown handled Abington (northeastern PA), 12-2, also under the ten-run rule.

Hatfield's star outfielder, Chris Edgar, has been named the Player of the Year in voting conducted by the managers of the League's twelve clubs.

Chris will receive the Gerry "Ben" Hostelley Memorial Award, donated by the Nor-Gwyn club, in a ceremony to be set later.

Boyertown defeated Hatfield, 16-0, to close out the Region 2 tournament at Coplay Wednesday afternoon.  The win does not, however, end Hatfield's season, as both Hatfield and Boyertown head to the Pennsylvania tournament, beginning August 5 at Boyertown's Bears Stadium.

Two Bux Mont League rivals faced off Monday night in Coplay, with Hatfield coming out on top for the third time in four meetings this season, by a score of 10-0 over Nor-Gwyn.  The win eliminated Nor-Gwyn; then Hatfield had to hang on until 10:30 PM to see Boyertown defeat Freemansburg, 10-8, to be assured of a berth in the state tournament, to begin August 5 at Boyertown.  (Boyertown is the Host Team, and so is assured the "Host" spot.)

Hatfield still has much unfinished business, with a game (possibly two) against Boyertown on Tuesday, plus the state tourney next Tuesday.  Hatfield will open up against the Region 3 champ at 4:00 PM on the 5th.

By virtue of their 17-7 win over Coplay, the Nor-Gwyn Hawks advance to Game #12 against - guess who? - Bux Mont League rival Hatfield, who lost to Boyertown in Game #11, 16-3.

Boyertown, already guaranteed a slot in the upcoming state tournament by virtue of being the host team, earned the right to play for the Region 2 championship with its lopsided win over Hatfield.  Their opponent in Game #13 will be Freemansburg, a 14-10 winner over Southern Area, who is now eliminated.

A Freemansburg win on Tuesday would give them the right to play the winner of the Hatfield-Nor-Gwyn game for the second berth in the state tourney ... should Boyertown defeat Freemansburg, a Bux Mont team will automatically get that coveted second slot.

Boyertown defeated Nor-Gwyn, 12-2, in Game #7 in seven innings Sunday night at Sam Balliet Field in Coplay, dropping the Hawks into the Losers' Bracket and advancing Boyertown to Game #11 vs. either Hatfield or Southern Area.

The last Sunday game (#8) between Hatfield and Southern Area saw Hatfield leading, 5-4, in the top of the seventh inning, when a heavy fog rolled in, causing officials to suspend the game until 10:00 Monday morning.  The winner will face Boyertown in Game #11 at 7:30 PM Monday; the loser plays Freemansburg at 4:00 PM.

In other Round Two action at Coplay, Freemansburg eliminated South Parkland, 11-2, while host Coplay knocked out Shillington, 8-6.  Freemansburg next plays the loser of suspended Game #8 at 4:00 PM Monday, and Coplay takes on Nor-Gwyn at 12:30 PM.  Both will be elimination games.

Nor-Gwyn outlasted Northampton's Freemansburg club, 18-14, in the first round of the Region 2 tournament in Coplay.  The Hawks will next face Boyertown (Berks), 6-4 winner of Saturday's Game #3 over Lehigh's South Parkland, in Game #7 at 4:00 PM Sunday.

Meanwhile, Hatfield defeated Berks' Shillington, 7-2, to advance to Game #8 vs. Schuylkill's Southern Area (7:30 PM Sunday).

In Losers' Bracket games Sunday, Freemansburg takes on South Parkland at 9:45 AM, followed by Coplay vs. Shillington at 1:00 PM.

The 2008 Bux Mont League's All League Teams have been selected by the League's managers:

First Team:  Pitchers Kevin Christy (Pennridge), Mat Frei (Quakertown), and Ryan Ignas (Nor-Gwyn Hawks); catcher Todd Budweg (Nor-Gwyn); first baseman Joe Conaway (Nor-Gwyn); second baseman Alex Hager (Pennridge); third baseman Tyler Russ (Pottstown Steelers), shortstop Rob Zinsmeister (Hatfield); outfielders Chris Edgar (Hatfield), Alex Latchum (Warrington As), and Chris Umstead (Pennridge); and utility player/DH Brian Conrad (Souderton).

Second Team:  Pitcher Craig Keiffer (Pennridge); catchers Ryan Brown (Souderton) and Chris Haagen (Warrington); first baseman Jim Cassel (Pottstown); second baseman Wes Fertig (Hatfield); third baseman Brian Sullivan (Hatfield); shortstops Eric Hink (Souderton) and Josh Martin (Pottstown); outfielders Alex Bashore (Nor-Gwyn), Justin Davey (Nor-Gwyn), Mat Frei (Quakertown), and Christian Radick (Hatfield); and utility player/DH Chris Greenwood (Nor-Gwyn).

Honorable Mention:  Pitchers Pat Reilly (Hatfield) and Rob Spragis (Warrington); first baseman Scott Christy (Hatfield); second baseman Tim Shanahan (Lansdale Cannoneers); third baseman Mike Hensel (Warrington); outfielders Kevin Hanes (Warrington) and Kyle McLaughlin (Warrington); and utility player/DH Jordan Force (Perkiomen).

The winner of the Ben Hostelley Award, emblematic of the League's Player of the Year, will be announced in a few days.

With a 9-5 win over Nor-Gwyn, Hatfield copped the Mel Wright Trophy, emblematic of the Bux Mont League's tournament championship.  Hatfield had already taken the regular-season title with an 18-4 record.

Both Nor-Gwyn and Hatfield now advance to the Region 2 tournament at Sam Balliet Stadium in Coplay, just north of Allentown.  (For directions, click on to "Locations" at the left and then "Coplay".)  See "Calendar" for more Region 2 news.

The upcoming Region 2 tournament, which leads to the Pennsylvania state tournament, begins Saturday, July 26.  All games are scheduled to be played at Sam Balliet Field in Coplay, PA.

Bux Mont League tournament runner-up Nor-Gwyn meets Northampton League champion Freemansburg at 9:45 AM Saturday, while Bux Mont regular-season and tournament champion Hatfield takes on Berks League runner-up Shillington at 1:00 PM.  In the other first-round games, Berks League champion and perennial powerhouse Boyertown faces Lehigh League champion South Parkland at 4:00 PM, and Schuylkill League champ Southern Area plays host team Coplay at 7:30 PM.

The Bux Mont League's managers will convene for the final time in 2008 to select the All-League teams, as well as the winner of the prestigious Gerry "Ben" Hostelley Award denoting the 2008 Player of the Year.

The meeting has been moved from Souderton to Quakertown Memorial Park's picnic pavilion (behind the stadium) on Thursday, July 24, at 8:00 PM.

The final Bux Mont League tournament game (#15) between Nor-Gwyn and Hatfield was rained out Wednesday night, and will be played at 6:00 PM Thursday, July 24, at Quakertown Stadium.

Should that game be rained out, Nor-Gwyn and Hatfield will be declared co-champions.  Of course, both clubs have already qualified for the Region 2 tournament, set to begin on Saturday the 26th.

In Monday action at Quakertown Stadium, Hatfield won rain-delayed Game #11 over Pennridge, 3-2, to move on to Game #13 against Souderton.  Pennridge remained alive, but was eventually eliminated by Nor-Gwyn in Game #12, 14-5.  In the late game, Souderton stayed in the hunt with a 15-2 win over Hatfield.

Souderton and Nor-Gwyn will now meet Tuesday night (7 PM, Quakertown Stadium) to decide the Bux Mont League's second representative at the upcoming Region 2 tournament at Coplay.  (Hatfield has already qualified for the Region 2 event by capturing the League's regular-season title.)  Also at stake in Game #14 will be the opportunity to face Hatfield Wednesday night for the Mel Wright Trophy, emblematic of the Bux Mont League tournament championship.

In Sunday's action at Quakertown Stadium, Nor-Gwyn eliminated Quakertown with a 12-3 win in Game #9.  Nor-Gwyn will next play Pennridge at either 4 PM or 7 PM Monday.  In Game #10, Souderton ended Warrington's season with a 17-8 victory; Souderton next plays top-seeded Hatfield at either 4 PM or 7 PM Monday.

The "Undefeateds" Game #11 was halted in the fifth inning by a quick-hitting thunderstorm, and will be resumed Monday at 2 PM.  The winner will then play at 7 PM, while the loser plays right away, at 4 PM.

In the final two games of second round action on Saturday, Souderton eliminated Doylestown with a 12-5 win at Romanoski Field, while Pennridge knocked off second-seeded Quakertown, 6-5, in an eight-inning thriller at Quakertown Stadium.

On Sunday, the 11 AM game will feature Nor-Gwyn vs. Quakertown in an elimination game.  In the other third-round elimination game, Warrington will face Souderton at 3 PM.  Finally, the two remaining "undefeateds", Pennridge and Hatfield, will square off at 7 PM.  All games from mow on are at Quakertown Stadium, and will be nine-inning contests.

In playoff action tonight (Friday):

#1 Hatfield defeated #5 Warrington, 13-12, in a wild eight-inning affair at School Road Park.  Hatfield now advances to Game #11 vs. the winner of tomorrow night's Pennridge-Quakertown game; Warrington remains alive, playing next at 3 PM Sunday against the winner of tomorrow afternoon's Souderton-Doylestown game.

#5 Nor-Gwyn eliminated #8 Silver Creek, 18-1, to end The Orioles' first playoff run in ten years.  Nor-Gwyn will next play at 11 AM Sunday vs. the loser of the Saturday Pennridge-Quakertown game.

#3 Pennridge edged #6 Souderton, 6-3, on a walk-off, seventh-inning three-run home run.  Pennridge next plays #2 Quakertown in Game #8 Saturday night at Quakertown Stadium.

#2 Quakertown downed #7 Doylestown, 2-0, and will next face Pennridge.  Doylestown takes on Souderton Saturday at 1:00 PM at Charlie Romanoski Field.

Round three will pick up at Quakertown Stadium Sunday, beginning at 11:00 AM.

An unexpected thunderstorm and heavy rain washed out July 17 Bux Mont League Tournament Games #3 at Quakertown and #4 at Pennridge.  However, the two other games, barely affected by the storm, were played:

In Game #1, top-seeded Hatfield defeated eighth-seeded Silver Creek, 10-3, and in Game #2, fifth-seeded Warrington defeated fourth-seeded Nor-Gwyn, 4-3.

So ... here's the revised schedule for Friday, July 18:  Game #3 – Doylestown at Quakertown (7:00 PM); Game #4 (continuation) – Souderton at Pennridge (5:30 PM); Game #5 - Silver Creek at Nor-Gwyn (6:00 PM); and Game #7 - Warrington at Hatfield (7:00 PM).

That means Games #6 and #8 will now be pushed back a day to Saturday, and Saturday's three-game slate at Quakertown Stadium will now be played Sunday.  See Calendar for more information.

#1 Hatfield, #2 Quakertown, #3 Pennridge, #4 Nor-Gwyn, #5 Warrington, #6 Souderton, #7 Doylestown, and #8 Silver Creek have all clinched places in our upcoming tournament, beginning Thursday, July 17.  Hatfield, Quakertown, Pennridge, and Nor-Gwyn will host first-round games ... Hatfield and Quakertown are also assured of hosting second-round games on Friday.

Tuesday's Perkiomen-Pennridge game decided third and eighth place.  Pennridge's 6-1 win over Perkiomen placed Pennridge third in the seeding and also gave the last playoff spot to Silver Creek.

For more details, go to our Calendar and click on each playoff game.

The twelve recipients of the 2008 Mel Wright Memorial Awards were announced – and commemorative certificates and beautifully engraved baseball bats presented – at the 2008 All-Star Game last Saturday evening at Nor-Gwyn's Ben Hostelley Field.  Honorees were:

Tim Shanahan (Cannoneers), Jon Gyles (Doylestown), Kevin Fink (Hatfield), Ryan Ignas (Nor-Gwyn), Cory Landes (Pennridge), Chris Walker (Perkiomen), Harry Davis (Plumstead), Josh Martin (Pottstown), Erik Stralo (Quakertown), Kevin Keebler (Silver Creek), Jim Klingerman (Souderton), and Kevin Hanes (Warrington).

Selections are made by each team's coaching staff on criteria such as reliability, sportsmanship, team spirit, leadership, and other intangibles.  The awards were created to commemorate G. Melvin Wright, who passed away several years ago after a long and illustrious career with the League as a coach, League President, League Commissioner, and umpire.  His son, Rocky, coaches the Pennridge team, and sponsors the awards.

With a come-from-behind, extra-inning 9-8 win over Souderton on July 13, Hatfield clinched the 2008 regular season championship and the #1 seed in the upcoming Bux Mont League playoff tournament.  The Charlie Romanoski Trophy will be presented to Hatfield at Quakertown next week.

With that title comes an automatic bid to the 2008 Region 2 tournament in Coplay, beginning July 26.  Joining Hatfield will be the winner of our tournament; should Hatfield also take the tournament title, the runner-up would advance to the Region 2 event.

Rosters have been finalized for the 2008 Bux Mont League All-Star Game, to be held at Gerry Hostelley Field at the Nor-Gwyn Complex this Saturday, July 12, at 7 PM ... players must report by 6 PM.  Each player is to wear his full uniform and bring along his bat, batting helmet, glove, catcher's gear, and ONE NEW BASEBALL (per team).

Prior to the game, the twelve prestigious 2008 Mel Wright Awards will be presented ... one to a deserving member of each Bux Mont League team.  The Nor-Gwyn folks will have numerous food items available ... enough for a sumptuous dinner meal.  Also available will be commemorative T-shirts (supply limited ... first come, first served).

For the Bucks County squad:  Pitchers Craig Kieffer, Cory Landis, and Louis Trivino (Pennridge), Kevin Keebler (Silver Creek Orioles), Jason Shelly (Quakertown), and Rob Spragis (Warrington A's); Catchers Chris Haagen (Warrington) and Adam Kammler (Pennridge); First Basemen Chris Clark (Warrington), Harry Davis (Plumstead), and William Smith (Quakertown); Second Basemen Jon Gyles (Doylestown), Alex Hager (Pennridge), and Jayson Rathjens (Quakertown); Shortstops Alex Moore (Warrington), Erik Stralo (Quakertown), and Ted Trymbiski (Plumstead); and Outfielders Mike Damm (Plumstead), Mat Frei and Donnie Krenitsky (Quakertown), Alex Latchum and Kyle McLaughlin (Warrington), and Chris Umstead (Pennridge).

For the Montgomery County squad:  Pitchers Garrett Buehler and Mike Franklin (Souderton), Kevin Christy, Carl Motts, and Pat Reilly (Hatfield), Ryan Ignas (Nor-Gwyn Hawks), and Tim Mayza and Robert Teufel (Perkiomen); Catchers Ryan Brown (Souderton), Todd Budweg (Nor-Gwyn), and Luke Chapman (Lansdale Cannoneers); First Basemen Jimmy Cassel (Pottstown Steelers), Joe Conaway (Nor-Gwyn), and John Manfredini (Perkiomen); Second Basemen Tim Shanahan (Lansdale) and Brian Sullivan (Hatfield); Shortstops Eric Hink (Souderton), Josh Martin (Pottstown), and Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield); Third Basemen Chris Greenwood (Nor-Gwyn) and Tyler Russ (Pottstown); and Outfielders Alex Bashore (Nor-Gwyn), Chris Edgar, Wes Fertig, and Christian Radick (Hatfield), Jordan Force (Perkiomen), and Tim Maloney (Souderton).

Seven Bux Mont players were selected to advance to the second round of the Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball All-Star Showcase, to be held on July 1 at Connell Park in Scranton.  They are:

Eric Ruth (P) and Robert Zinsmeister (SS) of Hatfield, Kyle McLaughlin (OF) and Ryan Clark (OF) of Warrington,  Nick Manai (3B) of Cannoneers, Mike Damm (2B) of Plumstead, and Justin Darey (OF) of Nor-Gwyn.

For directions to Connell Park, (a) go to "Locations" and click on the underlined heading entitled "Connell Park (Univ. of Scranton)" or (b) click on the underlined heading of this article.

The annual meeting to set up the 2008 All-Star Game squads ... Montgomery and Bucks ... will be held at the Quakertown Legion Post at 8:00 PM on Sunday, July 6.  Each club must be represented at this important meeting.

Priot to that meeting, each club needs to forward its Mel Wright Award winner for 2008 to Rocky Wright.

The best of the Bux Mont League will begin the Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball All-Star Showcase series at Coplay on Friday, June 20 ... players' reporting time is 10:30 AM.

Selected were:  Eric Ruth (P), Scott Christy (1B), Robert Zinsmeister (SS), and Christian Radick (OF) of Hatfield; Joe Mullin (C) of Doylestown; Gary Kleinschmidt (2B), Kyle McLaughlin (OF), and Ryan Clark (OF) of Warrington; Nick Manai (3B) of Lansdale; Tim Mayza (OF) of Perkiomen; Mike Damm (2B) of Plumstead, and Justin Darey (OF) of Nor-Gwyn.

Unfortunately, Gary Kleinschmidt was injured last week and will not be able to attend.

Athletes chosen to advance at Coplay will advance to the next round in Scranton on July 1.