The Quakertown Blue Jays (30-2) had two cracks on Wednesday to win the 2024 Pennsylvania State American Legion championship.
They only needed one.
For the second time in four days, Quakertown topped Northeastern (York County), this time 9-0, in game one of a potential twin bill.
Quakertown plated three runs in the first and three in the fourth. Cooper Natisin hit an RBI single to break the scoreless tie. Gerry Stanziola hit a bases loaded single two batters later to plate two.
The Blue Jays added on the fourth. Gunnar Rahn drew a bases loaded walk and Natisin singled home two more. Three more runs in the sixth blew the game open.
On the mound, Carl Weiss flirted with trouble early, but stranded runners on second and third in both the second and third innings. He threw a complete game shutout, the second one in a row for Quakertown.
The defending state champion Blue Jays ran the table in the double elimination tournament, going 5-0 and outscoring opponents 40-15.
Quakertown had already punched its ticket to the Mid-Atlantic regional tournament by virtue of Monday’s 10-5 win over Wesleyville. Pennsylvania sends its top two teams to regionals.
The double elimination Mid-Atlantic Regional starts on Aug 7. It will be held at Joe Cannon Stadium, Coppin State’s home field, in Hanover, Maryland. Quakertown will open against the New Jersey state champion in the second game of a morning doubleheader.
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