By T.J. Turrisi
Meadville Tribune
MEADVILLE —
In just their second full season of Junior Legion baseball, Saegertown has already made quite a name for itself.
The team began playing in 2008 as a developmental squad. In 2009-10 they have had a full roster and schedule.
And as of Wednesday they are the Northwest Pa. Region League runners-up, Pa. Western Regional champions and headed to the state championship tourney in Pottstown this weekend.
Saegertown fell to Millcreek in the league championship earlier this month, but claimed its first trip to the western regional tournament in Homer City.
At Homer City, the western regional title was taken in memorable fashion.
The locals topped Penn-Trafford (7-3) and Somerset Trust (10-4) to set up a rematch with Millcreek in the winner’s bracket finals.
Against Millcreek they had a late start following a long contest.
Right around 12:30 a.m., down a run in the bottom of the final inning with one out, John Macken came up to the plate with the bases loaded for the local crew.
Macken cracked a pitch down the right-field line for a two-run, game-winning double to top Millcreek 13-12 and cement a state berth.
“He’ll remember that one the rest of his life,” Saegertown head coach Steve Sada said.
Then on Wednesday the locals again defeated Millcreek, 7-4, in the championship final.
Saegertown has a 3-3 split going against Millcreek so far this season, and it is the only team to defeat Millcreek in 2010.
“They’ve dominated,” said Sada of the suburban Erie club. “This is like their sixth year in a row going to states. They draw from a large area, so it’s like a David and Goliath-type of story.
“They have a much deeper pitching staff, so it’s an uphill battle every time we play them.”
Joining the two local squads will be Pittsburgh-area team Penn-Trafford.
According to Sada, in the east they have four individual tournaments with the champions advancing. The eighth and final team will be from host Pottstown.
Saegertown’s first game is at 1 p.m. Saturday against an eastern Pa. team to be determined.
Needless to say the Saegertown team is pretty pumped coming into the final tourney. Sada is ready to let his talented group find out what it’s made of.
“This is the first time ever for our legion, and there seems to be quite a few teams around the west side of the state in junior legion,” he said. “It’s quite an accomplishment.
“We are obviously not a real deep team, so we will go down and see what we can do.”
T.J. Turrisi can be reached at 724-6370, ext. 276 or by e-mail at
tjturrisi@meadvilletribune.com
