Haden Brink helps Young Township even American Legion playoff series with Hempfield East

Young Township coach Ryan Staats told his team after Game 1 of the District 31 American Legion playoffs Tuesday that he wanted to return to Seton Hill for Game 3.

Staats’ team delivered on his request.

Young Township scored three unearned runs in the first two innings in Game 2 at Bertolino Field and added home runs by winning pitcher Haden Brink, a two-run blast, and Dustin Coleman in a 7-4 victory against Hempfield East to even the best-of-three series.

Game 3 is at 5:40 p.m. Thursday at Seton Hill.

Brink struck out 11 and allowed four runs. He was tough when he needed an out or two.

“I told the team before the game to focus on this one and get us to Game 3,” Staats said. “We did a good job taking advantage of three mistakes, but the home runs proved to be the difference.

“Hempfield East battled us, especially the way it hit the ball in Game 1. Haden doesn’t usually give up four runs in a game.”

Hempfield East took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI hit by Jacob Smith.

Young Township scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the inning. Coleman singled home one run and the second scored on a throwing error.

Hempfield East took a 3-2 lead in the top of the second inning when, with two outs, Owen Tutich was hit with a pitch, Caden Kim walked, Dom Rosensteel reached on an error that scored Tutich, and Grayson Willis singled home Kim.

“I was pleased with how we battled,” Hempfield East coach Jason Willis said. “We were missing three productive bats from our lineup. Hopefully we’ll get them back for Game 3.”

Coach Willis said Peyton Chismar and Anthony DeMarco were working and that Maxwell Short was sick.

Young Township tied the score 3-3 in the second inning on a single by Colin Saxion. Coleman homered in the third inning and Brink’s blast came in the fourth.

Tutich doubled home a run in the sixth inning to trim the lead to 6-4, but Saxion singled home a run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

“I thought Owen did a good job,” Willis said. “It was the first time he pitched since high school.”

In other action:

Latrobe 7, Somerset 4 – The Jethawks used a five-run sixth inning to rally for a win in Game 2 to sweep the best-of-three series.

Cole Short picked up the win in relief of Logan Bradish. The big blow in the sixth inning was a three-run triple by Bradish. Lou Amatucci doubled.

Homer City 5, Murrysville 4 – Michael Dolan went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Tristan Redinger homered as Homer City evened its series with Murrysville. Homer City built a 5-0 lead and survived a four-run seventh inning by Murrysville.

Game 3 is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Haymaker Park.

Bushy Run 7, Blairsville 0 – John Lovre pitched a shutout and Brody Hoffman had three hits and scored three runs as Bushy Run swept the best-of-three series.

Bushy Run scored four runs in the fourth inning on two-run hits by Anthony Monroe and Chuck Fontana.