The Hamburg Reds Jr. Legion baseball team of 2014 had a very successful season. Compiling a regular season record of 16-3, while competing in the Berks County Area Jr. Legion League.
Season highlights included wins over the Boyertown Bear-Cubs and West Lawn Owls, and qualifying for the Berks League playoffs. In the playoffs, the Reds defeated Muhlenburg, 3-2, Southern Area, 3-2, and Boyertown, 5-4. The Reds lost to West Lawn in the final of the Berks playoffs by a score of 7-4, to claim the runner-up spot.
By virtue of their regular season record the Reds qualified for the Pa. Eastern Regional Tournament, held July 26-30in Wayne.
The Reds opened the regional tournament against Newtown, the defending PA state champions from 2013. The Reds beat Newtown, 2-0, in a tight game. In the second round, the Reds faced North Parkland and came away with a 6-1 victory. The Reds advanced to the winner bracket final and played Greater Pittston from the Wilkes Barre area. A 4-0 victory put the Reds in the drivers seat.
A typical legion tournament bracket has the winners bracket champ face a team from the loser bracket in round 4. The Reds lost that game to the Boyertown Grizzlies, 10-5. They then moved on to championship game with three wins and a loss in the tournament.
In the championship game they squared off again against the Grizzlies, who had defeated North Parkland in the loser bracket final. The Reds’ season ended, one game shy of a berth into the state tournament with 5-0 loss. The Reds’ overall record finished at 22-7.
