Click Here for Video Highlights
Photo Gallery
MANSFIELD, Pa. – The 12th annual Joel Stephens Invitational saved its best for last, concluding in a thrilling championship game Sunday at Shaute Field at Mansfield University. MR Dirt scored the lone run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat defending champion Cherry Hill 1-0 in the closest and lowest scoring final in the history of the tournament.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Caleb Sheldon blooped an RBI single into shallow right-center field to score Joey Champluvier for the game-winner.
In a game that was truly a pitching showcase, Holden Lunger came away with the win. Tyler Huffman started the game and threw two scoreless innings before giving way to Lunger in the third inning. The duo combined to allow just six hits.
On the other side, Bret Hudson threw a complete game for Cherry Hill, allowing just four hits. He also picked up a win earlier in the weekend, and was named the Jeff Hunter Outstanding Pitcher of the tournament.
Evan Perry of MR Dirt was named the tournament's MVP. He was joined by teammates Dakota Roof and Pete Champluvier in earning outstanding recognition. Roof was named the Randy Naylor Outstanding Outfielder, while Champluvier took home the Jeff Jones Outstanding Hitter award.
Hudson was joined by Cherry Hill teammate CJ Szymczak, who was named the Cliff Dobs Outstanding Infielder.
MR Dirt was represented on the All-Tournament team by Graeme Zaparzynski and Nate Bennett, while Cherry Hill was represented by Julius Bzozowski and Jesse Gold.
The defending champions from New Jersey had to battle to reach the finals again this year, needing extra innings in the semi-finals before defeating Brockville 5-4 in nine innings. MR Dirt cruised to a 10-1 win over Bath in its semi-final matchup.
Sunday's final marked the lowest scoring game in tournament history, and matched last year's final for the smallest margin of victory.
123 456 7 r-h-e
Cherry Hill 000 000 0 0-6-2
MR Dirt 000 000 1 1-4-2
MR Dirt (5-0): Tyler Huffman, Holden Lunger (3, W) and Caleb Sheldon
RBI: Sheldon
Cherry Hill (4-1): Bret Hudson (L) and CJ Szymczak
Below are the outstanding player awards and the All-Tournament team, followed by recaps of the five other games played Sunday.
Joel Stephens MVP: Evan Perry (MR Dirt)
Jeff Hunter Outstanding Pitcher: Bret Hudson (Cherry Hill)
Jeff Jones Outstanding Hitter: Pete Champluvier (MR Dirt)
Randy Naylor Outstanding Outfielder: Dakota Roof (MR Dirt)
Cliff Dobs Outstanding Infielder: CJ Szymczak (Cherry Hill)
Stan and Doc Heaps Sportsmanship Award: Kiwanis Club of Mansfield
All-Tournament Team
- Eric Regel, Bellefonte
- Nick Palese, Northern Tioga
- Todd Meehan, Horseheads
- Matt Holling, Corning Gray
- Alex Venuti, Bath
- Jarrod Mattingly, Brockville
- Nate Bennett, MR Dirt
- Graeme Zapazynski, MR Dirt
- Julius Bzozowski, Cherry Hill
- Jesse Gold, Cherry Hill
9 a.m. Shaute – Palmer Semifinal
Northern Tioga (PA) 7
Bellefonte (PA) 8
MANSFIELD, Pa. – Bellefonte scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to score a comeback 8-7 win over Northern Tioga in the first semifinal for the Palmer Championship, played Sunday morning at Shaute Field.
Bellefonte loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. A walk tied the game at 7-7 and then Zach Moerschbacher singled home the winning run with a line drive single to left-center field.
Moerschbacher finished with three RBIs, while Justin Cuzza, Brandon Quay and Eric Regel each added one RBI.
Steve Stopper started the game for Bellefonte before giving way to Cuzza, who earned his second win of the tournament.
Northern Tioga scored four runs in the first inning and three more in the fourth inning, led by Talas Mahon with two RBIs. Nick Paese, Drew Fish and Luc Kocher all added one RBI.
Hunter Huyett threw the complete game, earning the loss.
Northern Tioga'a appearance on championship Sunday was the first for the club, marking its most successful appearance in the Stephens Invitational. Bellefonte advances to the Palmer Championship game where it will face Corning Gray.
123 456 7 r-h-e
N. Tioga 400 300 0 7-10-1
Bellefonte 320 100 2 8-12-1
Bellefonte (3-1): Steve Stopper, Justin Cuzza (W) and Jack Haffner
2B: Zach Moerschbacher, Brandon Quay, Charles Beaston
RBI: Moerschbacher (3), Quay, Cuzza, Eric Regel
N. Tioga (2-2): Hunter Huyett (L) and Trevor Adriance
2B: Nick Palese, Luc Kocher, Huyett
RBI: Talas Mahon (2), Palese, Drew Fish, Kocher
9 a.m. Kelly – Palmer Semifinal
Corning Gray (NY) 14
Horseheads (NY) 7
MANSFIELD, Pa. – Corning Gray scored 14 runs on 16 hits to defeat Horseheads 14-7 in the Palmer Semifinals played at Kelly Field.
Jeremy Austin had two RBIs to lead the Corning club, while Karl VanAmburg, Taylor Hackett and Travis Rosenwinkle each added one RBI.
Mike Nowatski earned the win on the mound for Corning.
Corning advanced to the Palmer Championship game to meet Bellefonte.
123 456 7 r-h-e
Corning Gray 250 103 3 14-16-1
Horseheads 012 202 0 7-8-0
Corning Gray (3-1): Mike Nowatski (W), Zach Hugg
2B: Kevin Childs
RBI: Jeremy Austin (2), Karl VanAmburg, Taylor Hackett, Travis Rossenwinkle
Horseheads (2-2): Joe Roman (L) and Jake Meehan
12 p.m. Stephens – Palmer Championship
Corning Gray (NY) 6
Bellefonte (PA) 2
TIOGA, Pa. – Corning Gray scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning to defeat Bellefonte 6-2 in the Palmer Championship game at Joel Stephens Memorial Field.
Colin Janesky hit a base-clearing double to score three runs in the sixth inning and Taylor Hackett, Mike Nowatski and Anthony Cantineri each had one RBI in the inning to account for the scoring.
Karl VanAmburg picked up the win on the mound.
Marcus Kotzur took the loss for Bellefonte.
123 456 7 r-h-e
Corning Gray 000 006 0 6-8-1
Bellefonte 100 001 0 2-8-0
Corning Gray (4-1): Karl VanAmburg (W), Zach Hugg
2B: Colin Janeski
RBI: Janeski (3), Taylor Hackett, Mike Nowatski, Anthony Cantineri
Bellefonte (3-2): Marcus Kotzur (L) and Jack Haffner
12 p.m. Kelly – Stephens Semifinal
Brockville (ONT) 4
Cherry Hill (NJ) 5
MANSFIELD, Pa. – Defending champion Cherry Hill needed extra innings to reach this year's championship game, scoring one run in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Brockville 5-4 in a matchup of unbeaten teams.
Jesse Gold hit a bloop single to score Dante Cassano in the ninth for the game-winning run.
Julius Bzozowski threw all nine innings to earn the win, allowing four runs and scattering nine hits.
Gold finished with two RBIs, while Sean Cohen and Pat Gaffney each added an RBI for Cherry Hill.
Brockville was led by Dave Forbes and Josh Jones, each with one RBI. Jarrod Mattingly threw the first five innings before giving way to Jordan Havekes in the sixth inning. Jay Flanigan came on in the ninth inning and took the loss.
Cherry Hill advanced to the championship game, where it will look to become the first repeat champion in Joel Stephens Invitational history.
123 456 789 r-h-e
Brockville 100 300 000 4-9-4
Cherry Hill 022 000 001 5-14-2
Cherry Hill (4-0): Julius Bzozowski (W) and C.J. Szymczak
2B: Dante Cassano
RBI: Jesse Gold (2), Sean Cohen, Pat Gaffney
Brockville (3-1): Jarrod Mattingly, Jordan Havekes, Jay Flannigan (L) and Matt Deluca
RBI: Dave Forbes, Josh Jones
12 p.m. Shaute – Stephens Semifinal
Bath (NY) 1
MR Dirt (PA) 10
MANSFIELD, Pa. – MR Dirt scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and continued to produce en route to a 10-1 win over Bath in the Stephens Semifinals at Shaute Field.
Pete Champluvier led the way at the plate with three RBIs, while Holden Lunger and Evan Perry each added two RBIs and Kurtis Mallow added one.
Kory Foster went the distance on the mound, earning the win after allowing six hits and one run.
Bath scored its lone run in the top of the third inning. Drew Seager took the loss on the mound.
123 456 7 r-h-e
Bath 001 000 0 1-6-2
MR Dirt 330 103 x 10-8-0
MR Dirt (4-0): Kory Foster (W) and Caleb Sheldon
RBI: Pete Champluvier (3), Holden Lunger (2), Evan Perry (2), Kurtis Mallow
Bath (2-2): Drew Seager (L), Matt Whedbee and Pat McDonnell
