A seven-run third inning erased an early deficit and helped Hempfield East rally for an impressive 11-5 victory against South Parkland in the Pennsylvania American Legion tournament at Showers Field in DuBois.
It was Hempfield East’s second consecutive victory in the tournament. It will play Swoyersville, which defeated Hopewell, 8-1, at 6:45 p.m. Monday.
Hempfield East opened the tournament by defeating Paxton on Saturday.
South Parkland, which beat Bristol, 15-0, during Day 1, jumped out to a 4-1 lead after two innings against Hempfield East pitcher Shane Stuchell, who earned the win.
Hempfield East scored seven runs on just three hits in the third inning.
Andrew Rosenberg started the frame with a walk, and Hunter Eperesi was hit by a pitch.
After Matt Wicker walked to load the bases, a Reid Hipps single scored two runs.
Then Noah Sweeney tied the score with a double. Dom Carrera’s bunt gave East the lead, and Jack McBride’s double made it 8-4.
Carrera added an RBI single in the sixth inning, and Eperesi had a two-run double in the seventh inning.
Stuchell settled down after the second inning. He allowed a run in the seventh inning, scattered six hits and didn’t walk a batter.
Hempfield East had 12 hits, including two apiece from Hertzog, Eperesi, Sweeney and Carrera. Eperesi, Hipps and Carrera had two RBIs each.
In other action, Bristol defeated Paxton, 4-3, and French Creek Valley edged DuBois, 7-6.
