After long high school playoff runs, District 31 American Legion baseball getting back to normal
District 31 president and Latrobe American Legion coach Jason Bush is less stressed these days.
That’s because despite a late start for some teams due to extended high school seasons, teams in the league are getting caught up and things are getting back to normal.
American Legion teams in the Penn-Trafford, Indiana, Franklin Regional and Burrell school districts started their seasons three weeks late, and all the teams are pretty much caught up.
“We have nine games to play still,” Bushy Run coach Scott Peyman said after his team defeated Lower Burrell, 12-0, on Monday. “We’re starting to play like I expected.”
Bushy Run has outscored opponents 65-2 the past five games.
Bushy Run is 8-2 in the Western Division, two games behind first-place Murrysville (10-0). The teams will meet at Murrysville on Friday and at Bushy Run on July 5.
Because District 31 has grown to 14 teams with the addition of Burrell, Derry, Yough and Trafford, the league was divided into two divisions — Eastern and Western.
Peyman said the goal is to either win the division or finish in the top two spots to guarantee a playoff spot. The last four playoff spots will be decided by points.
“If you get one of the top two spots, you start the playoffs at home,” Peyman said. “That’s what we’re shooting for.”
Hempfield East (9-4-1) is in third place followed by Trafford (6-6), Yough (6-8), Mt. Pleasant (4-8) and Lower Burrell (3-8).
Latrobe (11-0-2) is comfortably in the lead in the Eastern Division. Young Township (10-5-1) is second followed by Somerset (7-7), Derry (4-9), Blairsville (4-10), Homer City (3-8) and Unity (2-11).
“The teams that started late have done a great job getting caught up,” Bush said. “We’ve had to overcome a few things, but all the teams are capable of winning. You can’t take anyone lightly.”
The regular season is scheduled to end July 7 with the playoffs beginning July 9.
Four teams will advance to the Region 7 tournament at Claysburg on July 19.
The state tournament will be hosted by Murrysville at North Allegheny High School on July 27-31.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
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