Three Westmoreland County teams ready for state legion tournament

Three Westmoreland County baseball teams will be participating in the Pennsylvania American Legion State Tournament, which begins Saturday at North Allegheny High School.

Murrysville, the tournament host, Region 7 champion Bushy Run and Region 6 champion Belle Vernon will be representing the county against teams from across the state.

Bushy Run opens the tournament 10:15 a.m. against Region 2 champion Quakertown, the returning champion. Latrobe hosted last year’s tournament.

Belle Vernon will face Region 5 champion Hughesville at 1:15 p.m., and Murrysville will face Region 8 champion Wesleyville at 7:15 p.m. The 4:15 p.m. game has Region 3 champion Bristol against Region 4 champion Northeastern.

“We’re excited to compete,” Bushy Run coach Scott Peyman said. “We reached our goal by winning Region 7 after finishing second the previous two seasons.

“We’ll do our best. We’re getting a couple players back from vacation, but have three others going on vacation.”

Bushy Run won four games at Claysburg and defeated Murrysville, 4-3, in the finals.

Murrysville, coached by Bob Bozzuto, lost its first game at Claysburg but came back strong to win three games and reach the finals. Murrysville defeated Latrobe, Philipsburg and Claysburg, which defeated Murrysville, to reach the finals.

Belle Vernon defeated Connellsville twice to win the Region 6 tournament at Blackhawk.

Junior Legion tournament

The Junior American Legion tournament begins Saturday at First Commonwealth Bank field in Homer City.

The first game at 10 a.m. features Monroeville against Upper Perkiomen. Trafford battles Sunbury Norry at 1 p.m. followed by Hamburg and Indiana/S.W. Jacks at 4. The fourth game has Boyertown against Homer City at 7:30 p.m.