Region: 7
League: Central-Penn, postseason champions
Record: 34-8
State College, the Central-Penn League champion commenced their region seven tournament run by putting up their first of many crooked digits, with a 19-10 victory over Bushy Run from District 31. It was really just the beginning for the team, which appears to have one of the most powerful offenses in the entire state.
State College seemed to prefer playing shortened games last week, as they began a stretch of mercy-rule victories with a fifteen run win over Claysburg in seven innings. Not to be outdone by that performance, they smoked previously unbeaten Clearfield inthe winner’s bracket final. The game lasted just seven innings again, this time with a final score of 14-1.
Clearfield got a chance to bounce back against State College in their throw away game, and that they did. It was the only game of the tournament where their offense was held somewhat in check, as they were downed by a 6-5 tally. Regardless of the loss, State College still had a matchup in game fifteen of the tournament for the regional championship.
Wednesday proved to be one of the highest scoring days in regional history. First, Homer City eliminated Clearfield by punishing them 25-2 in seven innings. Unfortunately for Clearfield, it appears that they used their entire offensive output in the first game of the day. State College showed up unimpressed by the day’s earlier events and put up another huge run total that Homer City could not possibly obtain. Final score, in eight innings, was State College 18, Homer City 3.
The proof is in the numbers, and State College put up a gaudy seventy-four runs over the course of the tournament. That’s good for almost fifteen a game, a scary statistic for any possible opponent in this week’s state tournament. State College will take on host, and threetime defending state champion, Boyertown in the final game of the night on Tuesday. The Bears finished second in the always tough Berks County League, but were unable to qualify for state regionals. Beating them will be no easy task, but with the way State College’s offense has been performing of late, Boyertown may find themselves in a bit of trouble.
State College has positioned themselves as one of the top teams entering this week’s tournament. They are no stranger to the state spotlight, or to Boyertown’s BearStadium for that matter. Boyertown and State College have had a bit of a rivalry in the state tournament over the last decade or so. Whichever team gets thebetter of the other on Tuesday evening will have the Upper Dauphin/Hopewell winner looming in game eight.
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