Behind strong pitching performances from Ryan Hummell and Cole Moreau over the last two days, the Lower Macungie legion baseball team has advanced to the finals of the Lehigh Valley Legion playoffs.
Head coach Jeff Smith’s squad (12-5 overall) is the only undefeated team in the tournament after defeating North Parkland 2-0 on Tuesday and Whitehall/Coplay 6-1 last night at Church Lane Park.
With the two victories, Lower Mac has advanced to the championship round on Monday at 7 p.m. at Sam Balliet Stadium in Coplay. Awaiting them will be the winner of tonight’s elimination round game between South Parkland and Whitehall/Coplay. Lower Mac needs to win just once to claim the championship and a berth in the Region 2 Tournament at Quakertown. It’s the first time since 2022 that they have appeared in the finals.
In last night’s win over Whitehall/Coplay, starting pitcher Ryan Hummell was very efficient on the mound allowing just one run in a 76-pitch complete game effort.
After the visitors scored their only run of the game in the top of the first inning, Lower Mac responded with six unanswered runs, four coming in the second inning.
Third baseman Cameron Pengelly went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI in the win. First baseman Jaden Betz drove in what prove to be the winning run in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI single. Catcher Drayce Schmidt also had an RBI, while second baseman Jackson Burton was 1-for-2
For Whitehall/Coplay, Callen Nicklas went 1-for-3. Starter Carson Strauss suffered the loss after giving up six runs in five innings of work.
In Tuesday’s win over North Parkland, Cole Moreau was dominant on the mound tossing a complete game shutout while also driving in both of his team’s runs in the victory over the defending champs.
Moreau was caught in a classic pitcher’s duel with Steven Sepko through the first five innings before Lower Mac scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Moreau ripped a two-run RBI single to right field off of Sepko giving his team a 2-0 lead.
The win was the fourth this Summer for Lower Mac over North Parkland.
Lower Mac 6, Whitehall 1
Wh – 100 000 0 – 1
LM – 140 100 x – 6
Carson Strauss, Maison Mourani (6) and Callen Nicklas. Ryan Hummell and Drayce Schmidt. LP – Strauss
Lower Mac 2, North Parkland 0
NP – 000 000 0 – 0
LM – 000 002 x – 2
Steven Sepko and Aiden Anderson. Cole Moreau and Drayce Schmidt.