On the way to Williamsport
Belle Vernon edges Baden on walk-off hit to win Region 6 tourney
BEAVER FALLS — At least it was water.
Tom Jackson couldn’t escape the ceremonial bath after Belle Vernon Post 484 won the Region 6 American Legion Baseball Tournament in walk-off fashion over Baden on Monday at Chippewa Park.
Jackson’s players celebrated the championship in the outfield following Jacob Peterson’s walk-off single to center field for a 6-5 victory before heading to the third-base line to accept their medals and plaque, but JB Crovak and Chace Petrosky snuck up behind their coach and did the honors.
The shower is usually done with Gatorade, but Jackson was happy to take a cool bath on a hot day as Belle Vernon advanced to the state tournament for the second time in three years.
“I’m proud of the boys,” Jackson said. “Our goal was to win this tournament and advance to states. It’s fun to win and beat teams by 10 or whatever, but games like this are really rewarding.”
Belle Vernon (20-2-1) will open play in the state tournament on Saturday at 6 p.m. against the host team, Williamsport Post 1. The eight-team double-elimination tournament will run from Saturday to July 30, and the top two teams will advance to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament that begins Aug. 5 in Shrewsbury, Mass.
Belle Vernon went 3-0 in the Region 6 tournament with two triumphs over Baden and one over Blackhawk. Jackson’s squad edged Baden, 8-7, in the opener before topping Blackhawk, 4-2, in its second contest.
Baden rebounded from its first setback to Belle Vernon to defeat Smithfield-Fairchance, 8-7, prior to a 20-18 victory over Blackhawk to advance to the championship.
With Baden (9-6-1) having one loss in the tournament entering Monday’s contest, coach Richie Iorfido’s team needed to defeat Belle Vernon twice for the championship. Baden was the runner-up to Connellsville in last year’s Region 6 tournament.
“I couldn’t be prouder of my team,” Iorfido said. “We lost two one-run games to Belle Vernon, but I have all the respect in the world for Belle Vernon. I want to wish them the best of luck in the state tournament, and I hope they can win it for Region 6.
“I would like to tell people if there were more coaches like me, Legion Baseball would be better, but the truth is, if there were more coaches like Tom Jackson, it would be better. He is unbelievably dedicated and a great coach, and it’s no shame losing to them.”
Iorfido used four pitchers against Blackhawk, and due to the pitch-count rule of 105, the No. 1 question entering Monday’s action was if Baden had any arms available.
Connor Iorfido, who normally serves as Baden’s catcher, started and threw 105 pitches. He allowed six runs (three earned) on six hits in 6 â…“ innings with three strikeouts and four walks (one intentional).
“Baden is a helluva team,” Jackson said. “Richie has them coming ready to play every single time. That pitcher, he had to throw 400 to 500 balls from behind the plate, then he comes in here and throws another 105, so hats off to them.”
Richie Iorfido had one left-hander available if another game was needed, but his team gave everything they had.
“Kudos to Matthias Davis for coming in and catching for us,” Richie Iorfido said. “He played a helluva game. His arm was a little banged up, but he came in and stepped up for us. We have been battling injuries.”
Baden scored one run in the top of the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead before Belle Vernon tied the game in the bottom of the third frame.
Belle Vernon added three runs in the fourth for a 5-2 advantage, but Baden scored one run in the fifth and two in the sixth for a 5-5 game.
Jackson brought in Cole Matusik to pitch the top of the seventh, and the Belle Vernon graduate set down Baden in order with a groundout and two strikeouts.
Brendon Geho started for Belle Vernon and was relieved by Nate Grimm.
“Geho and Nate Grimm did a good job for us, and after the sixth inning, Nate looked at me and said, ‘Hey, let Cole finish it for me,'” said Jackson. “Two years ago when we won the Region 6 tournament, Cole’s brother made the final out for us, and now Cole comes in and does his business.”
Crovak got Belle Vernon going in the seventh when he reached first base safely on an error. Crovak advanced to second on a passed ball before Vito Francia was intentionally walked to set the stage for Peterson, who sent Crovak home when he connected on a 3-2 count for the game-winning hit.
“I tell my kids all the time, ‘You get on, we win this game,'” said Jackson. “It was huge for these kids. They all play together, and they are one big team.”
Jack Crovak hit anything that moved in the first two games of the tournament, but was held without a hit against Baden in the championship, but he did drive in Belle Vernon’s first run on a groundout.
An MVP was not selected for the tournament, but Jackson proudly announced who his pick would be.
“That kid (Jack Crovak) is the MVP of the tournament,” Jackson said. “I think he hit almost .800 in this tournament. I would never throw a baseball to that kid, plus he can also pitch if needed.”
Peterson and Dom Pireaux each had two hits. Pireaux and JB Crovak had one double apiece. Pireaux drove in two runs. Aiden Shaffer and Petrosky each had an RBI.
Baden’s Joe Leseiko had three hits and drove in two runs. Teammate Chance Parish also had three hits, including a double, and one RBI.