Battle-tested Latrobe, other contenders ready for start of American Legion baseball playoffs

By: Paul Schofield
Monday, July 7, 2025 | 9:29 PM

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Winning the District 31 American Legion title in the regular season does not guarantee a team will be the playoff champion, of course.

But Latrobe (14-4) certainly enters the postseason battle-tested. The Jethawks won their sixth regular- season title under coach Jason Bush by defeating Unity, 3-2, on Friday and Bushy Run, 8-3, on Sunday.

The victory against Unity was the Jethawks’ fifth walk-off win of the season.

“A friend texted me and said I was coaching the Cardiac Kids,” Bush said. “We had an older team last year. We knew this would be a challenging year because of our youth.

“We have a lot of tradition, and the players stepped up. Pitching and defense are what carried us. Our team earned-run average is below 3.50, and we make the plays. We knew we would be challenged offensively.”

The most consistent offensive player for the Jethawks has been Mason Fridley.

Bush has resorted to small ball and moving runners with bunts.

The District 31 playoffs were supposed to begin Monday with a play-in game between Unity (5-13) and Mt. Pleasant (2-15-1), but a late-afternoon thunderstorm postponed the game until Tuesday at Seton Hill. Latrobe, which plays the winner, will now begin the playoffs Wednesday.

Otherwise, the quarterfinals are scheduled to begin Tuesday with the other three best-of-three series.

Latrobe (14-4) will host the winner of the Unity/Mt. Pleasant game Wednesday at Legion Keener Park.

Weekday games begin at 5:30 p.m.

Hempfield East (13-4-1) clinched second place by defeating Young Township in a doubleheader Saturday. East will face Young Township (6-12) at Pitt-Greensburg.

The other two series have Murrysville (8-10) facing Bushy Run (13-4-1) at Penn-Trafford, and Homer City (9-8-1) against Lower Burrell (9-9) at ABC Field.

Game 2 of those quarterfinal series will be Wednesday with Game 3 (if necessary) on Thursday.

“This has been a well-balanced league,” Bush said. “Anyone is capable of winning. Mt. Pleasant defeated us 3-0 this season. Every team has solid pitching.”

The semifinals are slated to begin Saturday, and the championship and third-place games are scheduled for July 16.

The four semifinalists will qualify for the Region 7 tournament scheduled for St. Michael (Forest Hills High School) beginning July 19.

American Legion baseball

District 31 playoffs

All weekday games at 5:30 p.m.

Preliminary round

Monday’s results

Unity vs. Mt. Pleasant, ppd.

Tuesday’s schedule

Mt. Pleasant vs. Unity at Seton Hill

Quarterfinals (best-of-three)

Tuesday’s schedule

Game 1

Young Township vs. Hempfield East at Pitt-Greensburg

Murrysville vs. Bushy Run at Penn-Trafford

Homer City vs. Lower Burrell at ABC Field

Game 2

Wednesday’s schedule

Latrobe at Mt. Pleasant/Unity winner (Game 1)

Hempfield East vs. Young Township at Bertolino Field

Bushy Run vs. Murrysville at Haymaker Park

Lower Burrell vs. Homer City at First Commonwealth Bank Field

Game 3 (if necessary)

Thursday’s schedule

Mt. Pleasant/Unity winner vs. Latrobe at Legion Keener (Game 2)

Young Township vs. Hempfield East at Pitt-Greensburg

Murrysville vs. Bushy Run at Penn-Trafford

Homer City vs. Lower Burrell at ABC Field

Semifinals

Game 1: Saturday

Game 2: Sunday

Game 3: Monday, July 14 (if necessary)

Championship and third-place game

July 16

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.