PINE GROVE - Pine Grove players weren't too pleased when rain wiped out their playoff opener Sunday evening, pushing it back another 24 hours.
The Grovers weren't as sharp as usual last time they had a five-day layoff between games.
Brian Reichert helped make sure that wouldn't be an issue this time.
Reichert went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run single in the third inning that helped Pine Grove earn a 5-1 victory over Minersville in the Schuylkill-Berks Legion League North Division playoffs Monday at Stump Stadium.
"Brian had a big game for us, coming up with clutch base hits with guys in scoring position, which is really the key to baseball," Pine Grove manager Frank D'Agostino said.
The win advances the top-seeded Grovers (14-2-1) to a winners' bracket matchup with No. 7 Tamaqua at 6:30 p.m. today at Stump Stadium. Minersville (6-12-2) drops to an elimination contest at Schuylkill Valley at 5:30 p.m. today.
Pine Grove last played five days ago, sweeping a pair of games against Valley View and Pottsville. Previously, the Grovers committed an uncharacteristic four errors in a 3-3 tie at Southern Area on June 26 after a five-day layoff.
The Grovers' defense was crisp
behind winning pitcher Jared McCabe, and the lineup put the ball in play and came up with hits in key situations.
Reichert was particularly sharp in the third inning when Jed Blankenhorn singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Steve Zimmerman laced a ball to the outfield that was misplayed, putting runners on second and third for Reichert.
Trailing 1-0, Reichert ripped a 1-1 offering back through the middle to drive in both baserunners.
"It was very important," Reichert said. "The first couple innings, we couldn't hit him. He kept throwing the curveball. He threw me two in a row. It was a hanger and I took advantage of it. I hit it right up the middle."
To that point, Minersville starter Isaac Melochick had controlled the Pine Grove lineup. A pair of defensive miscues in the third helped open the door for the Grovers.
"Isaac threw well," Minersville manager Marty Brophy said. "He probably deserved better. ... Defense. It's been what's killed us all year. We beat Valley View because we didn't have an error. You're not going to beat Valley View 1-0 half the time.
"(Pine Grove) did good. They put the ball in play. The third inning Zimmerman hit that one to right. Tough play, but he hit it well. They're a very good team. That's why they're the No. 1 seed. Just good speed. They're just solid right through."
Pine Grove also backed McCabe, who scattered three hits, walked three and struck out three in going the distance. The Grovers committed just one error, but McCabe induced a flyout to end the inning.
Most impressive was the sharpness of the Pine Grove defense despite shifting some positions due to a short bench because of other obligations.
With McCabe pitching, Reichert moved from third base to shortstop and Wade Bressler played third instead of first.
And the Grovers were sharp despite the layoff.
"We felt really good. We were ready to play yesterday and the rain came," Reichert said. "We were kind of mad about that. We just wanted to play. We just showed up today. I was pretty shocked to play short, too. I'm usually a third baseman. We came back and wanted to play, and we executed.
"I played a little bit on my fall team. We needed a shortstop because our shortstop was on the pitcher's mound. I'm a utility player so I can play wherever. I'm comfortable anywhere. Just put me on the field."
Minersville took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, using a leadoff single by Ryan King, a sac bunt by Melochick, a passed ball and James Brophy's sacrifice fly to center field.
Reichert gave the Grovers the lead for good in the third with his two-run single. Bressler added an RBI single later in the frame.
Kobe D'Agostino's RBI ground out made it 4-1 in the fourth, and Reichert added another RBI single in the sixth.
"We did a good job putting the ball in play," Frank D'Agostino said. "That's what you have to do with teen-age kids, in high school and Legion baseball. Make them make plays on you. Hit it hard, hopefully, it makes it tougher on them. And, we did a good job."
Hamburg 5 Tulpehocken 1
HAMBURG - Joey Cominsky tripled and drove in a pair of runs as the Reds eliminated the Thunder in a South Division losers' bracket contest.
Brandon Fry added a pair of RBIs, and Willie Sandman scattered four hits and struck out four to earn the victory.
Junior Legion Youth Pottsville 6 Kutztown 4
KUTZTOWN - Alex Pellish and Eric Wapinsky each scored on fielder's choice grounders, and Gavin Hinchliffe added an RBI single in the seventh inning as the Lions rallied for a win over the Cougars.
Mike O'Pake pitched a complete game, striking out five and allowing one earned run for Pottsville.
Wapinsky went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI, Hinchliffe was 3-for-4 with an RBI and Richie Bentz was 2-for-3 for the Lions.
Junior Legion Prep Southern Area 1 Twin Valley 0
AUBURN - Ben Norris pitched six innings, scattering four hits and striking out four, to help the A's knock off Twin Valley.
David Krewson's two-out single in the fourth inning allowed Cheyenne Wesley to score the game's only run. Jack McKivigan paced the Southern Area (11-4) offense with three hits.
Eric Freeman earned the save, entering in the seventh inning and fanning two.