Local baseball teams make it a summer to remember

State Champions Greencastle-Antrim's 13-14 baseball all-stars added State Champion to their accomplishments of the summer that included section and this district banner. From left, are: front row - Chad Miller, Corey Kern, Andrew Zeger, Drew Deshong, Denton Cordell; coach Joe Szaflarski, Denver Cordell, Cody Ezolt, Eric Schanzenbacher, Denton Ensminger, Tyler Szaflarski, Devin Schaeffer, Jared Grove and manager Mike Ensminger.

All-star baseball teams from the Greencastle-Antrim Baseball/ Softball Association made plenty of noise around the state and beyond during the Little League Inc. tournament season.

The 13-14 team won District 14, Section 7 and State crowns and advanced to the Eastern Regional Tournament and the doorstep of the World Series. It was the first Little League Inc. state title in Greencastle.

The 10-11 team also gained District 14 and Setion 7 laurels before bowing out in the final four round of the state event.

Triple titlists

Greencastle-Antrim's 13-14 sqaud compiled a 15-3 record in capturing the three Little League Inc. crowns. The team charged to the titles with 14 wins in 15 games before dropping two of its three final games at the Eastern Region Tournament. That put the team two wins away from a World Series berth.

The local team opened the tourney with a 6-3 victory over Barrington, R.I. and moved on with a 17-5 dunk of East Meadow, N.Y. behind a 24-hit attack. Leading the way were Andrew Zeger (4-for-5), Cody Ezolt (3- for-4, double, five RBIs), Eric Schanzenbacher (3-for-5) and Denton Ensminger (3-for-5, two RBIs).

Greencastle bounced back from a close 3-2 loss to Middletown, N.J. with a 2-0 blanking of Arbutus, Md. to set up a rematch with Middletown. Tied 2-2 with Middletown, the hosts got a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth for the winning measure. Devin Schaeffer led the group back with a complete game six-hit shutout of Arbutus. Schaeffer and Denver Cordell drove in the runs.

In the game that eliminated Greencastle, Middletown exploded with 13 hits en route to the 14- 0 final. Walks and errors were also a factor. Greencastle was limited to five hits, just one for extra bases, from Drew Deshong.

Greencastle was undefeated in winning the state title, besting Warren 9-7 in the championship tilt. The local team trailed 5-0 when Warren scored five in the bottom of the third, before Greencastle got on the board in the top of the fourth and added their own five-spot in the fifth. Zeger drove in a run and four more came by Warren errors. DeShong and Ensminger knocked in runs for insurance.

Andrew Zeger notched the pitching win in relief.

10-11 champions

The 10-11 team was 11-4 during its Little League Inc. run that ended at the final four in the state.

The game that eliminated the local squad was a 16-2 loss to West Norriton, which scored early and often on 10 hits and taking advantage of 11 walks. Offensively, Greencastle got two-run double from Cody Thompson behind singles from Jake Crist and Steve McFetridge.

The Section 7 title came by a 4-1 win over Lionville. Greencastle took a 2-1 lead in the first as Jake Crist doubled home Eli Englehart and Justin Hovey, who each singled. The local team got insurance in the fifth. Crist set the table with a single for Ashtin Byers, who slugged a homer. Greencastle used defense to preserve the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Lionville put runners on the corners, turning a triple play. A routine out at first was followed by a tag at home and then another at third. Justin Hovey notched the mound win and Ryan Ricci was credited with a save.

Greencastle dropped its opener at the PAState Championship, 12- 0 to West Norriton before besting Tamaqua 12-11, and then the elimination game with West Norriton.