BARNESVILLE — During Blue Mountain’s string of 14 consecutive Schuylkill League golf team titles from 1997-2011, one thing was constant.
The Eagles had depth.
That was the case this season, and it ended up in another championship for Blue Mountain.
Junior Austin Boyer shot a 2-over 74, while senior Bailey Sophy carded an 83 as the Eagles outpaced Pottsville 331-350 to win the league team championship Wednesday on the Mountain Course at Mountain Valley Golf Course.
Freshman Kevin DiLorenzio (86) and senior Tanner Cook (88) rounded out the top four golfers for Blue Mountain, the Division I champs. Marian placed third with a 356, while Lourdes was fourth at 357.
Wednesday’s championship was second in three years for the Eagles, who won the 2013 crown by edging Mahanoy Area 329-334 at Blue Mountain Golf Course.
Both Sophy and Cook were members of the 2013 championship squad. Sophy led the Eagles that day with a 78.
“For me, it’s my senior year and it’s how I wanted to go out,” Sophy said of this year’s title.
Mike DeColli (83) lead the Division I runner-up Crimson Tide with an 83, while Schuylkill League girls’ champion Rachel Brahler had an 87.
The Division II championship was also decided Wednesday by a tiebreaker procedure after Lourdes and Marian finished tied for first in the division at the end for the regular season. Marian (356) ended up winning the division by a stroke over the Red Raiders (357).
Lourdes’ Evan Salamone was the day’s medalist with a 1-under 71, but the next best score for the Red Raiders was Selina Albert’s 93. Albert McFadden paced the Colts with an 84, while Mike Latoff had an 86.
The Eagles’ depth was evident Wednesday.
Boyer golfed out of the No. 3 spot and came through with the best round of his high school career considering the importance of the match and Wednesday’s chilly and blustery conditions.
Boyer was a member of the 2013 squad, but did not compete in the league team championship match that season.
“It’s great because this was my best chance because I didn’t start when I was a freshman,” Boyer said. “I was in school listening to reports on how they were doing. I know this was my best chance with both Bailey and Tanner leaving next year.”
Boyer’s score helped picked up Cook, who won the Schuylkill League individual boys’ title Monday at Hidden Valley Golf Course with a 75, but struggled Wednesday. The Eagles also had sophomore Vito Valenti (98) and freshman Sophie Orsulak (98) compete Wednesday.
“We had a lot of decent freshman come out this year,” Sophy said. “Kevin, Sophie and even Kaleb (Sophy).”
But it was Boyer who led the way Wednesday. He got plenty of high-fives from his teammates as the Eagles took pictures following the round on the deck outside the restaurant at Mountain Valley.
Boyer’s round included four birdies, nine pars and four bogeys. He had a 2-over 38 on the more open front nine and even-par 36 on the more wooded back side.
“I was little surprised with how I was doing, considering the wind and the rain,” said Boyer, who was sixth at the Schuylkill League individual championships Monday with an 81. “Once I finished the front nine, I knew I could do it.
“It’s more open than the back, so once you get to the back, you have confidence after you shoot well on the front.”
Three of Boyer’s birdies came on par 5s. One hole that stood out for him was No. 7, a 461-yard par 5 and the longest hole on the course. He felt he hit one of his better chip shots of the day, putting it close enough to sink his birdie putt.
Boyer felt his short game, especially his putting, was the best part of his round Wednesday. He figured he had 25-27 total putts during the round, including six straight one-putts on the front nine.
“With how the greens were wet and how they rolled, some of them fast and some of them slow, putting was a key,” Boyer said. “Some of the guys I played with didn’t putt well, but I putted well.”
Golf Summaries
Schuylkill League Team Golf Championship
At Mountain Valley Golf Course, Barnesville
Par: 72
Yardage: 5,635 (boys), 4,991 (girls)
Wednesday’s results
Blue Mountain (331) — Austin Boyer 74, Bailey Sophy 83, Kevin DiLorenzo 86, Tanner Cook 88, Sophie Orsulak 90, Vito Valenti 98,
Pottsville (350) — Mike DeColli 83, Rachel Brahler 87, Mike O’Pake 88, Alex Everly 92, Trent Barnes 93, David Leymeister 98
Marian (356) — Albert McFadden 84, Mike Latoff 86, Tim Dando 92, Jarod Paisley 94, Nick Kurzinsky 96, Tyler Wackley 105
Lourdes (357) — Evan Salamone 71, Selina Albert 93, Thomas Shultz 96, Walter Kalinoski 97, Ryan Ciocco 101, Tucker Fegley 133