Bushy Run Legion, Trafford Junior Legion complete successful seasons

The only things missing from the Bushy Run American Legion and Trafford Junior Legion baseball teams’ season in 2024 were state titles.

Both teams advanced to their respective state tournaments, a first time for Bushy Run and the fourth consecutive season for Trafford, but injuries and being shorthanded end their runs.

Bushy Run coach Scott Peyman said making the state tournament and winning the Region 7 tournament were huge first steps for the program.

The players on the Bushy Run team have played together since they were 7 years old, spurning the lore of travel ball to play for their community.

“The next step is to win a state title,” Peyman said. “We have a great farm system in place within the district thanks to the efforts of the Penn-Trafford Athletic Association,” Peyman said. “They form their own travel teams so kids can grow up playing together and that’s important.”

Bushy Run rolled through the Region 7 tournament, defeating rival Murrysville to win it. In the state tournament, Bushy Run fell to eventual state champion Quakertown and Bristol.

Against Quakertown, Bushy Run jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but ended up falling 11-5.

“We just didn’t have enough pitching,” Peyman said. “I had three players go on vacation, which left us shorthanded, and I couldn’t use Brandon (Rohrer) until Monday because he pitched in the Region 7 championship game.

“We did a good job setting up our pitching for Region 7. Things broke well and everyone contributed. We had players (David Newsom, Nico Casciato and Colton Tyburski) step up and have a fantastic tournament. Many didn’t play a lot during the regular season.”

Others to shine included Brody Hoffman, Chuck Fontana, Brandon Long, Jonny Lovre, Dom Delio, Rob Andrews, Rohrer, Carmen Metcalfe, Ethan Septak, Erik Biroscak and Anthony Monroe. Jason Sabol was unavailable because of a leg injury.

Ian Temple and Tyler Freas returned for the state tournament after missing the Region 7 tournament.

“I’d like to think if we had everyone available that we would have beaten Quakertown,” Peyman said. “Our pitching and defense was strong all season. This was a fun group to be around.”

Of the 18 players on the roster, Peyman expects to lose at least half next summer because of the age limit. He said Rohrer, Newsom, Metcalfe and Hoffman could return.

“It was a great season,” Peyman said. “We got a lot accomplished and set the bar higher. We were able to complete this season and things look bright.”

Trafford’s Juniors reached the final four of the state tournament before falling to eventual champion Boyertown, 4-0.

“We were the only team up to that point to force them to play a full seven innings,” Trafford coach Steve Freas said. “The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning. Caleb (Kerstetter) did a great job quieting their bats.”

Boyertown had scored more than 50 runs total in the previous games. It was a team that had 12 16-year-old players on the roster.

“We’d like to continue and grow and get to that Boyertown level,” Freas said. “I can’t say enough about the effort of the players. Everyone contributed, even kids who didn’t see along of playing time. When we called on them, they delivered.”

One of the teams Trafford defeated in the state tournament was Upper Perkiomen, which it lost to in the state finals in 2023. Trafford too was missing a couple key players, namely Ben Grabowski who was out with a foot injury.

“Keeping these kids together has really helped the program.” Freas said. “I think we’ve proven to the kids and their parents that they don’t have to play travel ball, and it’s better for them to play with their friends.

“We’ve been successful competing and beating good travel teams. A lot of these kids will be contributing to the Penn-Trafford varsity and junior varsity teams next year. They’ve bought into the system and are awaiting their turn to shine.”

Third baseman/pitcher Evan Gigliotti, Kerstetter, Kaden Lipko, Jake Lang, Peyton Mastro, Landon Thomas, Jordan White, Bryce Ruby, Cam King, Otto Hettler and Noah Rattigan played well.

“We didn’t have the thumpers like we had in the past,” Freas said. “But our pitching and defense was outstanding. These kids will benefit in the feature by playing meaningful tournaments.”