Wyomissing, Hamburg advance in Schuylkill-Berks Legion tournament

Division leaders Wyomissing and Hamburg advanced with wins Friday on the opening day of the Schuylkill-Berks Legion League Region 2 qualifier at Kutztown’s Bridegam Field.

Post 625 was eliminated from the double-elimination tournament after a 5-3 loss to Hamburg and a 3-0 loss to Wyomissing.

The Reds and Warriors meet Saturday at 4:30 in the first game of a double-header back at Bridegam Field in what is now a two-team tournament.

If the teams split Saturday they’ll meet in a championship game.

Rather than send its league champion, as it traditionally does, the Schuylkill-Berks League chose to hold an earlier regional qualifying tournament this season. Only three teams opted to enter.

The Region 2 Tournament begins July 15.

The traditional league championship tournament begins July 23.

The North Division-leading Reds managed just five hits in beating Post 625 in the first game, but three of them went for extra bases. Tristan Baer had a triple, walk and scored two runs for Hamburg. Nate Gilbert had an RBI double and Ricky Clark drove in two runs. Braden Fetherolf went five innings to pick up the win; he allowed six hits and three runs, none earned. The Reds committed four errors.

In the second game the South Division-leading Warriors got a combined three-hit shutout in their 3-0 win. Matt Kramer went the first 1 2/3 innings, Dominic Colon pitched 2 1/3 innings and Aidan Cirulli finished with three hitless innings. They combined for 10 strikeouts.

Cirulli had a single, walk, scored a run and drove in a run to lead the Warriors, who are 11-0 in league play.

Wyomissing won the league championship last year and advanced to regional play.