


Stokes QuotesChampions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision.
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Three Legion Teams Battle for Top SpotTEAM Sponsors
WH LEGION MVPs
2016 - Cory Hegedus2015 - Eric Loucks 2014 - Grant Fox 2013 - Tyler Lilja 2012 - Anthony Fanelli 2011 - Zach Zimmerman 2010 - Tim Norris 2009 - Jon Murphy 2008 - Dan Norris 2007 - Zack Martin 2006 - Mike Harvat 2005 - Brandon Gnesda 2004 - Dave Campbell 2003 - Tyler Anderson 2002 - Eric Floriani By
Paul Schofield
The District 31 American Legion
baseball playoffs are scheduled to begin in one week, and the race for the top
spot in the Southern Division has heated up.
Hempfield East, Latrobe and West Hempfield are
the teams vying for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Hempfield East (11-2) holds a half-game lead over
Latrobe (10-2) heading into today's games. Hempfield East is scheduled to play
Greensburg at Greensburg Salem High School, while Latrobe is off before
playing six games in five days, beginning with a game at 1 p.m. Friday against
rival Derry. Latrobe is scheduled to play West Hempfield (9-4)
on Saturday and Monday, and will have a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Sunday against
Hempfield East at Hempfield Area High School. "It's going to get real interesting this
weekend," Latrobe coach Jason Bush said. "We knew this stretch would determine
the top spot and seeding. "Hempfield East, West Hempfield and Latrobe
typically have been the strongest teams. Hempfield and Latrobe had the top
teams in high school. The players were aware of the challenge and they
accepted it." West Hempfield, which defeated Latrobe, 12-1, on
Tuesday, suffered a tough loss to Unity, 4-2, on Wednesday. The loss kept them
two games behind Latrobe. "We just didn't play well," West Hempfield coach
Bob Stokes said. "We beat Latrobe and then came to Unity with no energy."
Greensburg, which is trying to hold on to the final spot, will play Hempfield East three times and West Hempfield and Mt. Pleasant once. In the Northern Division, Kiski (11-0) is first, followed by Valley (7-5-1), Murrysville (4-4), Jeannette (4-6-1), Irwin (3-5) and Burrell (0-9). District 31 president Doug Walker said it's
highly unlikely he will extend the season past the final playing date Tuesday.
The playoffs meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, and the postseason will start
on July 10. "We've already shortened the season for the teams," Walker said. "The Northern Division only had to play 15 games this summer, and I don't understand why teams are having problems getting games in. If they don't have them all in, they won't make the playoffs." The Westmoreland Junior Legion playoffs are in
the pigtail round. West Hempfield is scheduled to play Hempfield East at 6
p.m. today at Hempfield Area High School. The winner of that game will play at
Penn Township on Friday. Elizabeth, the Southern Division champion, Greensburg
and Irwin PAL await the completion of the pigtail round. Paul Schofield can be reached at
pschofield@tribweb.com or 724-853-2109.
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