Junior Blue Sox join Smith Post as American Legion state champs

BINGHAMTON - The Junior Utica Blue Sox joined Rome's Smith Post as state champions Saturday as District V completed a sweep of the New York Department of the American Legion's baseball titles by winning the three-team junior division tournament.

The Junior Blue Sox had swept two games in round-robin play Friday before beating the Clinton County Mariners by the same 6-2 score from the day before. The win by the Junior Blue Sox secured the championship over the Mariners who had beaten Binghamton Post after their loss to the the Utica team; Clinton County would have needed two wins Saturday to claim the championship.

More: Junior Blue Sox win District V American Legion tournament

Smith Post had won the senior division title earlier in the week, also on Conlon Field.

The Junior Blue Sox took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed Saturday behind Peyton Roberts. Roberts, who had recorded the final out of Friday's second game, a 9-6 win over Binghamton Post, pitched 5 ⅓ innings Saturday and held Clinton County scoreless through the first four before checking out having allowed two runs on six hits and one walk. Matthew Helmer retired five of the six batters he faced to close out the win.

Leadoff batter Anthony Marino went 3-for-3 with a walk, three stolen bases, two runs scored and two RBIs for the Junior Blue Sox (24-3) who won their eighth consecutive game and 18th of 19. Logan Plows, the tournament's most valuable player, drove in two runs, and Daniels and Helmer each doubled and scored a run.

Adrian Barnes had two hits, drove in a run and pitched ⅓ of an inning while earning the Big Stick Award for Clinton County.

The state championship sends the Blue Sox to Bangor, Maine, next with play there starting Friday.

Senior division regional schedule set

Smith Post take the field against Wheeling, West Virginia, at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the opening game of the eight-team Mid-Atlantic senior division regional tournament in Ridge, Maryland.

The tournament is double elimination, and the winner between Smith and Wheeling plays again Thursday at 4:30 p.m. against either Wilmington, Delaware, or Fort Cumberland, Maryland; Wednesday's losers play a 9:30 a.m. elimination game.

The other four teams represent Brooklawn, New Jersey, Quakertown, Pennsylvania, Northeastern from Manchester, Pennsylvania, and Ridge, the tournament's host.

Championship round play is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start Sunday with a second game to be played, if necessary. The winners of eight regional tournaments advance to the 97th American Legion World Series in Shelby, North Carolina, Aug. 15-20.

This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Junior Blue Sox join Smith Post as American Legion state champs