Tops seeds win on opening night of Berks Senior Legion tourney (updated)

The top four seeds won on the opening night of the Berks Senior Legion Tournament, but it took second-seeded Boyertown extra innings to slip past No. 7 Birdsboro, 5-4.

Top-seeded Norchester won 2-1 over Post 217, No. 3 West Lawn defeated No. 6 Shillington 6-2 and No. 4 Reading beat No. 5 Twin Valley 6-2.

At Bear Stadium, the Bears (18-5-1) scored a two-out run in the seventh to tie the game, then won it in the eight when Peyton Moyer scored from second on a throwing error following a sacrifice bunt.

Boyertown advances to a winner’s bracket semifinal Thursday against West Lawn at Bear Stadium; Reading plays at Norchester in the other winner’s semifinal.

In the elimination games Thursday, No. 8 Post 217 is at Twin Valley and Daniel Boone is at Shillington.

The games move to Owls Field Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Norchester 2, Post 217 1

At Bucktown, Dylan Donaghy and two relievers combined on a seven-hitter, with seven strikeouts, to carry the top-seeded Bulldogs.

Norchester took a 2-1 lead with a pair of sixth-inning runs, neither run scoring via a hit. Aaron Kirby and Blaine Waltimyer picked up RBIs on groundouts. The Bulldogs managed just two hits in the game.

Donaghy went the first 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits but not runs. Alex Lobello picked up the win, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Shay Gelb got the final three outs for the save.

Ryan Cardinale went 3-for-3 with an RBI for Post 217.

West Lawn 6, Shillington 2

At Owls Field, Ryan Kelly, Lucas Gensemer and Christo Hunsicker combined on a four-hitter for the third-seeded Owls. Gensemer threw 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and Hunsicker got the final four outs for the save.

Kelly’s three-run homer highlighted a four-run third for the Owls and erased Shillington’s 2-0 lead.

Evan Galbaldon went 2-for-3 for West Lawn with an RBI and a run scored.

Matt Novotny went 2-for-3 for sixth-seeded Shillington.

Boyertown 5, Birdsboro 4

At Bear Stadium, Birdsboro out-hit Boyertown 12-6, with Nate DeBusi, Mason Walter, Alex Vassallo and Ethan Rissmiller each collecting two hits for the Mavericks.

Colin Eisenhard went 2-for-2 with two RBIs for the Bears, and Moyer and Luke Moser each scored twice. The Bears took advantage of 14 walks.

Reading 6, Twin Valley 2

At George Field, Joelian Zapata struck out nine over 5 1/3 innings to lead Reading. He walked just one and allowed two hits.

Jose Monegro, Brandon Peralta and Jesus Rodriguez each had two hits for Reading, which scored three times in the second and twice in the third to take a 5-0 lead.