Opening Ceremony Video
Photo Gallery
MANSFIELD, Pa. -- The 13th annual Joel Stephens Invitational Tournament kicked off Saturday with 12 first round games played at Mansfield University's Shaute Field, Kelly Field in Mansfield and Joel Stephens Memorial Field in Williamson.
As always, the highlight of the opening day of the tournament was the opening ceremonies and the parade of teams. At the openeing ceremony, the tournament committee honored Brian Barden, the retiring director of enrollment services at Mansfield University. Barden was presented with a jacket from Ron and Joyce Stephens, Joel's parents, and threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
A total of 16 teams from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Ontario, Canada are taking part in the 13th annual edition of the tournament.
The big winners of the opening day were defending champions MR Dirt (Towanda, Pa.) and Horseheads (Horseheads, N.Y.), who both posted 2-0 records with impressive wins.
MR Dirt opened the day with an 11-0 win over Big Flats, with two pitchers combining to throw the first no-hitter of the tournament. They later defeated Bellefonte 1-0, to finish the day without allowing a run.
Horseheads opened the day with a 3-0 victory over Mansfield and closed the day with a 6-1 win over Cherry Hill, which has played in the title game in each of the last two years.
MR Dirt was joined in the no-hit department by Bath Fitters (Williamsport, Pa.), who used seven differnt pitchers to post a no-hitter over Corning Gray.
Other teams that played two games on day one included Corning Gray (1-1), Bath Fitters (1-1), Cherry Hill (1-1) and Bath (1-1).
Competition will resume Sunday with 12 more games in the round-robin format that will determine which teams advance to the Stephens and Palmer semifinals and championship round Monday.
Scroll down to see complete recaps and statistics from all of Saturday's games. Click the links at the top of this page to view video of the opening ceremonies and a photo gallery from day one.
9 a.m. at Shaute Field
MR Dirt - 11
Big Flats - 0
MANSFIELD -- Holden Lunger and Austin Markel combined to throw a six-inning no-hitter to lead defending champion MR Dirt to an 11-0 win over Big Flats in the first game of the day at Shaute Field.
Lunger threw five innings and struck out seven batters. Markel threw the sixth inning and struck out three batters with one walk.
At the plate for MR Dirt, Dakota Roof was 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs. Christian Carr had a triple and a double to go along with one RBI, while Pete Champluvier, Graeme Zaparzynski and Kurtis Mallow all added one RBI.
Only three runners reached base for Big Flats as a result of two walks and one error. Big Flats was charged with seven errors in the game.
MR Dirt 011 324 x 11-13-1
Big Flats 000 000 x 0-0-7
MR Dirt (1-0): Holden Lunger (W), Austin Markel (6) and Caleb Sheldon/DJ Kelleher (6)
2B: Christian Carr 3B: Carr, Dakota Roof
RBI: Roof (2), Carr, Graeme Zaparzynski, Pete Champluvier, Kurtis Mallow
Big Flats (0-1): JT Rice (L), Jamie Green (6) and Skylar Leljadal
9 a.m. at Kelly Field
Mansfield - 0
Horseheads - 3
MANSFIELD - Horseheads began the Joel Stephens Invitational with a win after scoring one run in the second inning and two more in the fifth to defeat Mansfield 3-0 in the opening game at Kelly Field.
Derek Gilbert gave up just four hits and recorded four strikeouts in seven innings of work to earn the victory for Horseheads. After starting the game with back-to-back singles, Mansfield managed just two hits off of Gilbert for the remainder of the game.
Mike Jankowski led Horseheads offensively, going 1-for-3 with one RBI. Mark Manganaro also drove one run in. Calvin Woolhiser and Mike Abrunzo each posted hits in the game as well with Woolhiser accounting for the only extra-base hit of the game. Jacob Meehan, Matt Hicks and Dylan Manwarning all scored runs.
Matt Reese went 2-for-3 from the leadoff spot to pace Mansfield. Sam Bohnert took the loss on the mound after giving up three runs and three hits with five walks over six innings.
Mansfield 000 000 0 0-4-3
Horseheads 010 020 x 3-3-1
Horseheads (1-0): Derek Gilbert (W)
2B: Calvin Woolhiser
RBI: Mike Jankowski, Mark Manganaro
Mansfield (0-1): Sam Bohnert (L) and Glen Reese
9 a.m. at Stephens Field
Bradford County - 18
Northern Tioga - 3
WILLIAMSON – The Bradford County Bobcats scored 18 runs on 14 hits and cruised to an 18-3 win over Northern Tioga in the first game of the day at Joel Stephens Memorial Field.
Chris Pack picked up the win on the mound for Bradford County after throwing the first three innings. Pierce Ranck came in to relieve Pack in the third inning and Trey Patton entered in the fifth inning.
Charlie Lingle took the loss for Northern Tioga after allowing four runs in the second inning. Ryan Bronson pitched a scoreless third and fourth inning before Nick Hand allowed nine runs in the fifth inning.
Logan Hitchcock led the way for Bradford County at the plate, going 3-for-3 with six RBIs. Taylor Skerpon was also three-for-three with three RBIs and four runs scored. Five other players added one RBI for Bradford County.
Brad Graham and Trevor Adriance each had one RBI to lead Northern Tioga at the plate.
Bradford County 141 39x x 18-14-1
Northern Tioga 110 01x x 3-6-5
Bradford County (1-0): Chris Pack (W), Pierce Ranck (3), Trey Patton (5) and Caleb Route
2B: Taylor Skerpon, Mason Roof 3B: Skerpon
RBI: Logan Hitchcock (6), Skerpon (3), Zack Place, Brandon Dinelli, Mason Roof, Corey Lee, Ranck
Northern Tioga (0-1): Patrick Bronson, Charlie Lingle (2, L), Ryan Bronson (3), Nick Hand (5)
RBI: Brad Graham, Trevor Adriance
11:30 a.m. at Shaute Field
Corning Gray - 1
Bath Fitters - 4
MANSFIELD – Bath Fitters (Williamsport, Pa.) used seven different pitchers and made wholesale lineup changes throughout the entire game en route to posting a 4-1 no-hit win over Corning Gray in the second game of the day at Shaute Field.
A different pitcher threw each inning of the game for Bath Fitters, combining to strike out 10 batters. Alex Carpenter was credited with the win after striking out all three batters he faced in the fifth inning. Christian Clark earned the save after striking out two in the seventh inning.
Corning was credited with three errors in the game while Bath Fitters had just two RBIs. Drae Lewis and Garrett Shnyder each had one RBI, while Lewis and Jared Fagnano each added a double.
Josh Grant took the loss on the mound for Corning after throwing a complete game. He scattered eight hits over six innings and struck out six batters. Travis Rosenwinkle had the lone RBI for Corning.
Corning Gray 001 000 0 1-0-3
Bath Fitters 020 101 x 4-8-0
Corning Gray (0-1): Josh Grant (L) and Colin Janeski
RBI: Travis Rosenwinkle
Bath Fitters (1-0): Garrett Shnyder, Jared Fagnano (2), Cam Kriner (3), Kyle Schneider (4), Alex Carpenter (W, 5), Brandon Gantz (6), Christian Clark (S, 7) and Josh McCormick/Kyle Eck (5)
2B: Jared Fagnano, Drae Lewis
RBI: Lewis, Shnyder
11:30 a.m. at Kelly Field
Bellefonte - 0
MR Dirt - 1
MANSFIELD: Josh Clark had 11 strikeouts and carried a no-hitter through six and two-thirds innings en route to M R Dirt's 1-0 win over the Bellefonte Post 33 Bandits at Kelly Field. Bellefonte's Taylor Smith also had a strong outing, giving up just two hits and striking out four M R Dirt batters in a complete-game effort.
A sacrifice fly by Graeme Zaparzynski scored Zach Ripic in the first inning in what turned out to be the game's only run. Both of M R Dirt's hits came in the first inning. Ripic, who led off the game with a double, finished 1-for-3 with one run scored. Nate Bennett also went 1-for-3 for M R Dirt. Bennett's single moved Ripic to third base and led to Zaparzynski's RBI.
Bellefonte's best scoring chance came in the sixth inning when Brandon Quay reached on an error to begin the inning. With one out in the inning, Quay advanced to third base thanks to a passed ball and a stolen base. However, Clark got out of trouble by recording his ninth strikeout of the game before forcing a fly out to retire the side.
Dylan Moerschbacher broke up Clark's no-hitter with an infield single with two outs in the seventh inning. But Clark ended the game with a strikeout to close out the victory.
Bellefonte 000 000 0 0-1-1
M R Dirt 100 000 x 1-2-1
MR DIRT (2-0): Josh Clark (W) and DJ Kelleher
2B: Zach Ripic
RBI: Graeme Zaparzynski
Bellefonte (0-1): Taylor Smith (L) and Eric Regel
11:30 a.m. at Stephens Field
Elmira Heights - 7
Bath - 1
WILLIAMSON -- Elmira Heights held Bath off the scoreboard after the first inning and spread seven runs over the final six innings to earn a 7-1 in the second game of the day at Stephens Field.
Kyle Michaud earned the win on the mound for Elmira Heights, throwing a complete game and scattering six hits.
Kyle Christensen threw a complete game for Bath, allowing all seven runs on nine hits.
Tyler Ungerland, Chuck Gublo and Bubba Barber each had one RBI for Elmira Heights. Barber was 2-for-3 on the day and Jeff Mathers was 2-for-2 at the plate.
Elmira Heights 011 200 3 7-9-2
Bath 100 000 0 1-6-0
Elmira Heights (1-0): Kyle Michaud (W) and Chuck Gublo
2B: Gublo
RBI: Gublo, Tyler Ungerland, Bubba Barber
Bath (0-1): Kyle Christensen (L) and Pete McDonnell
3 p.m. at Shaute Field
Northern Tioga - 0
Bath - 5
MANSFIELD -- Jim Tunison took a no-hitter five and two-third innings en route to a one-hit complete game shutout to lead Bath to a 5-0 win over Northern Tioga in the third game of the day at Shaute Field.
Bath improved to 1-1 on the day while Northern Tioga dropped to 0-2.
Tunison, who struck out seven, also helped his cause with two RBIs in the game. Nick Hillman and Mitch Buckley each added an RBI, while Buckley had the team's lone double and Pete McDonnell added a triple.
Willy McCabe took the loss on the mound after going just over four innings. He allowed three earned runs and struck out seven batters. Luc Kocher pitched the final two innings and did not allow a run.
Kyle Colgrove had the lone hit, a double, for Northern Tioga.
Northern Tioga 000 000 0 0-1-2
Bath 000 140 x 5-6-1
Northern Tioga (0-2): Willy McCabe (L), Luc Kocker (5) and Trevor Adriance
2B: Kyle Colgrove
Bath (1-1): Jim Tunison (W) and Pete McDonnell
2B: Mitch Buckley 3B: Pete McDonnell
RBI: Tunison (2), Buckley, Nick Hillman
3 p.m. at Kelly Field
Cherry Hill - 7
Utica - 4
MANSFIELD – Cherry Hill opened up their Joel Stevens Invitational with a 7-4 decision over Utica. Jeff Davis recorded nine strikeouts in a complete game effort on the mound to earn the win.
In the top of the first, Cherry Hill struck first scoring three runs on four hits. Errors by Utica allowed Cherry Hill to add two more runs in the 3rd. Pat Gaffney was 2-3 on the day with two runs scored.
Nick Maldanado led Utica, going 2-3 and adding two runs. Thomas DeBernardis took the loss for Utica.
Cherry Hill 302 110 0 7-10-2
Utica 102 000 1 4-5-5
Cherry Hill (1-0): Jeff Davis (W)
RBI: Anthony Lizzi, Brandon Perna, Alec Sochacki
Utica (0-1): Thomas DeBernardis (L)
2B: Nicolas Maldonado, Daniel Priore
RBI: Michael Obernesser, Gary McConnell
3 p.m. at Stephens Field
Hershey - 5
Corning Gray - 8
WILLIAMSON -- Corning Gray improved to 1-1 on the opening day of the tournament with an 8-5 win over Hershey in the third game of the day at Stephens Field.
Corning scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead after trailing 5-3 going into the inning. Hershey battled back in the top of the seventh, loading the bases, but Travis Rosenwinkle was able to work out of the jam without allowing a run to earn the save.
Jeremy Brenning was credited with the win as the starting pitcher for Corning.
Zack Drayer took the loss for Hershey, throwing a complete game.
Nick Frampton, Nate Shollenberger and Josh Grant all had doubles to lead Corning at the plate.
Hershey 030 020 0 5-8-0
Corning 210 005 x 8-?-?
Hershey (0-1): Zack Drayer (L) and Jack Geduldig
Corning (1-1): Jeremy Brenning (W), Travis Rosenwinkle (S, 7) and Colin Janeski
2B: Nick Frampton, Nate Shollenberger, Josh Grant
6 p.m. at Shaute Field
Horseheads - 6
Cherry Hill - 1
MANSFIELD -- Dylan Manwaring scattered four hits over six innings and Mike Abrunzo hit a home run and had three RBIs to lead Horseheads to a 6-1 win over Cherry Hill in the nightcap at Shaute Field.
Manwaring picked up the win after throwing six innings and striking out five. Pat Matkosky closed the game in the seventh inning and did not allow a hit.
Abrunzo was stellar at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Calvin Woolhiser and Kyle Lewis each added one RBI for Horseheads.
Matt Binder started the game on the mound for Cherry Hill and allowed four runs in just over one inning of work. Al Antuzzi came in after one out in the second inning and was impressive over the remainder of the game, allowing two runs and striking out six batters.
Ben Machtinger led Cherry Hill at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Horseheads 130 010 1 6-7-0
Cherry Hill 000 001 0 1-4-0
Horseheads (2-0): Dylan Manwaring (W), Pat Matkosky (7) and Todd Meehan
HR: Mike Abrunzo
RBI: Abrunzo (3), Calvin Woolhiser, Kyle Lewis
Cherry Hill (1-1): Matt Binder (L), Al Antuzzi (2) and Evan Hacker
RBI: Ben Machtinger
6 p.m. at Kelly Field
Brockville - 4
Bath Fitters - 3
MANSFIELD – The Brockville Bunnies exploded for three runs in the fourth inning to defeat the Bath Fitters (Williamsport, Pa.) 4-3 at Kelly Field. The victory was Brockville's first of the tournament. The loss dropped the Bath Fitters to 1-1 on the day.
John Coleman had two RBI to go with a pair of hits to lead Brockville to the win. David Forbes and Pat Froom also drove in runs for Brockville. Austin Marcellus had the games only extra-base hit, smacking a double in the fourth inning.
Brent Daviault picked up the win for the Bunnies after tossing a complete-game. Daviault struck out four batters while surrendering eight hits and three runs.
The two squads traded runs in the third inning before Brockville broke open the 1-1 tie by scoring three runs in the top of the fourth to take a commanding 4-1 lead. The spurt began thanks to Marcellus' one-out double. Froom proceeded to drive him in with a single on the next at-bat. Froom scored later in the inning thanks to a two-out single by from Coleman that also plated Dylan Casselman.
The Bath Fitters made a comeback by scoring runs in the fifth and sixth inning, but it wasn't enough to give them its second win of the day as Brockville managed to hang on for the 4-3 win. Jake Levering and Cam Kriner both drove in runs to lead the Bath Fitters. Brandon Gantz suffered the loss for the team from Williamsport.
Brockville 001 300 0 4-6-3
Bath Fitters 001 011 0 3-8-2
Brockville (1-0): Brandon Gantz (W) and Zane Fish
2B: Austin Marcellus
RBI: John Coleman (2), David Forbes, Pat Froom
Bath Fitters (1-1): Ryan Hostrander, Travis Singer (2), Alex Carpenter (2), Brandon Gantz (4), Garrett Shnyder (5), Kyle Schneider (7) and Kyle Eck, Josh McCormick (5)
RBI: Jake Levering, Cam Kriner
6 p.m. at Stephens Field
Big Flats - 2
South Western York - 12
WILLIAMSON -- South Western York scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back en route to a 12-2 win over Big Flats in the night cap at Stephens Field.
Big Flats scored both of its runs in the first inning before falling behind in the bottom of the inning.
Brandon Utz earned the win on the mound for South Western York after throwing the first three innings. Tyler Sterner pitched the fourth and fifth innings and Chris Mills pitched a scoreless sixth.
Parker Bean led South Western York at the plate with a triple, two hits and five RBIs. Josh Fry added two hits and two RBIs.
Tee Milliken had a double and both RBIs for Big Flats. Jamey Green took the loss on the mound after throwing the first four innings. Ernie Parker pitched the fifth and sixth.
Big Flats 200 000 x 2-5-5
SW York 501 321 x 12-9-1
Big Flats (0-2): Jamey Green (L), Ernie Parker (5)
2B: Tee Milliken
RBI: Milliken (2)
SW York (1-0): Brandon Utz (W), Tyler Sterner (4), Chris Mills (6)
2B: Parker Bean 3B: Josh Fry, Keith Poppas
RBI: Bean (5), Fry (2)
