Matt Smith stymied a last-minute rally as the Boyertown Bears defeated the West Lawn Owls, 5-4, in a thriller that concluded the Berks County regular schedule. The win clinches the regular season title for the Bears. The Owls trailed 5-1 entering the top of the seventh inning, but a long, 2-run double by Christo Hunsicker (his second 2-bagger of the game) cut the lead to 5-3. When Hunsicker scored on an infield single and a throwing error, Smith entered the game to relieve starter Richard Black and got a strike out to end the game. In addition to Hunsicker, Nick Crocona lined a pair of doubles for the Owls, who outhit the Bears 10-6 in the game. For Boyertown, leadoff hitter Cole Kratz went 3-for-3 scoring 3 times and stealing 2 bases, while Pat McNeill clouted the first home run of the season for the Bears.

With the Berks County League down to 6 teams following the folding of Twin Valley, both Boyertown and West Lawn will receive byes in the Berks County Playoffs, which begin on Wednesday. Both teams will have home games on Thursday before the entire tournament moves to George Field in Reading.

Photo of a spectacular catch by Logan Barndt is courtesy Rick Martin