SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Dominant pitching turned Schuylkill West into the Area 2 13-14-Year-Old All-Star Tournament champs.
Will Kimmel allowed just one run on seven hits in a complete game as he led Schuylkill West to a 7-1 victory over Schuylkill South in the tournament finale at Schuylkill Haven High School on Saturday.
"Will did an unbelievable job," West manager Shawn Masser said. "No matter how long he pitched or who it was against, he battled. I knew he could do it."
Along with Kimmel's dominant pitching, the West (5-1) used a five-run fifth inning to secure its spot in the VFW State Tournament in Clearfield on July 25-28. The West will open the tournament against the Area 5 runner-up at 3 p.m. Friday.
Jake Masser led the West's offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a double, while Ashton Buchanan had three hits and drove in a run.
The contest turned into a championship game when Schuylkill West defeated Schuylkill North 5-3 behind a complete game from Jake Masser on Saturday morning, while Schuylkill South shut out Schuylkill East 10-0.
With both teams going into the game with 5-1 records, the winner would earn the right to represent Area 2 in the VFW State Tournament.
Kobe Brish led off the bottom of the first for the South with a double. He later scored from third on a wild pitch by Kimmel to give the South its only runs of the game.
The West responded in the top of the second when South starter Dom Dostick walked Kimmel with the bases loaded to bring Buchanan home and tie the game.
Dostick pitched three innings, allowing one run on five hits. He was relieved by Brandon Schaeffer in the fourth.
The game turned into a pitchers' duel as Kimmel pitched two 1-2-3 innings in the second and third and faced just four batters in the fourth.
Schaeffer also retired the side in order in the fourth, but was roughed up with a five-run fifth.
After walking Logan Yoder, Schaeffer gave up five consecutive hits. Jake Masser had an RBI double, while Buchanan, Dawson Schwalm and Danny Scheib each followed with RBI singles. Schwalm also scored on a passed ball, giving the West a 6-1 advantage.
"We finally started stringing together runs in that inning," Shawn Masser said. "It seemed like everybody did a little something for us."
Austin Homan started the sixth inning for the South, and Jake Masser drove in his second run of the game to put the West on top 7-1.
"Jake pitched this morning and led our offense here in this game," Shawn Masser said. "He comes through for us in multiple ways."
Kimmel allowed just three hits over the final two innings to secure the win for Schuylkill West.
Even with the loss, Schuylkill South manager Tony Moran had nothing but praise for the West
"They're gonna represent our area well," Moran said. "They have two great starters in Jake Masser and Will Kimmel and every kid in their lineup is a threat."
Schuylkill West 5 Schuylkill North 3
HEGINS - Jake Masser allowed three runs on six hits and struck out six in a complete game during the West's victory over the North at Hegins Park.
Masser and teammate Dawson Schwalm had two RBIs, while Will Kimmel scored twice.
Nick Kowalishen took the loss, despite pitching a three-hitter. Two of the runs he allowed were earned as Kowalishen struck out six.
Schuylkill South 10 Schuylkill East 0
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Jake Lenninger pitched a three-hit shutout to lead the South to a win over the East.
Jason Soper had two hits and three RBIs for the South, while Dawson Evitts added two RBIs.
Schuylkill North 6 Schuylkill East 5
FRACKVILLE - After giving up a 4-1 lead in the top of the sixth, Schuylkill North scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to earn a comeback win over the East at Memorial Park.
Zack Strokes led off the sixth with a double, and scored on a single by Aaron Perneta to tie the game. Mitch Wagner then knocked in Perneta on a two-out double with what proved to be the game-winning run.