Bushy Run Legion team looking to repeat at regions

By: Paul Schofield
Friday, July 18, 2025 | 6:34 PM

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The Bushy Run American Legion baseball team was not expected to win the District 31 title.

But no one told the players, especially veterans Brody Hoffman. Brandon Roher, Jon Lovre, Carmen Metcalfe and Robbie Andrews.

They helped lead Bushy Run to a 9-3 victory against Lower Burrell in the championship game Wednesday.

Bushy Run defeated Murrysville and Hempfield East to advance to the final.

Now Bushy Run tries to repeat as Region 7 champion. It opens the tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday against Claysburg, the Cambria League regular-season champion, at Portage High School.

Bushy Run manager Scott Peyman said he did not see the title coming.

“At the beginning of the year I would have been shocked if someone made us the favorite,” Peyman said. “But they came together at the right time and played good baseball at the end of the year.”

This was a different Bushy Run team.

For the first time in years, Peyman had four players from Jeannette and a player from Norwin. They blended well with the Bushy Run players, including numerous 16-year-olds.

“Hoffman, Jon (Lovre), Robbie (Andrews) and Roher were leaders,” Peyman said. “All those guys have been here for three or four years. I am glad they get to go out with a bang and win a championship. Now they get to finish their careers this way, it is special.”

Now that it won the district title, Bushy Run looks to earn a trip to Erie for the state tournament.

Lower Burrell coach Steve Scheftic said losing in the final hurt because he really wanted to win the District 31 title.

“I will also say this: that on game day, the coach only has one job, and that is to try to help his team to do the best they can and to win the game,” Scheftic said. “I do not think it was my best day, either. This was a big game for us. Winning the district title means a lot to me. It means more than anything. You work hard all season to win the championship.”

Scheftic said he is looking forward to the weekend and spending for time with the team.

Lower Burrell will face Bedford at 2 p.m. at Forest Hills. Also playing at Forest Hills are Latrobe and Hempfield East.

The Jethawks battle Philipsburg at 11 a.m., and Hempfield East faces St. Micheal at 5 p.m.

Here is a look at Saturday’s schedule:

American Legion Region 7 tournament

July 19-23

Host: St. Michael

Saturday’s games

At Forest Hills High School, Sidman

11 a.m.: Latrobe (20-10) vs. Philipsburg (13-8)

Managers: L: Zach Bush. P: John White.

Players to watch: L: P Colt Short, SS Cooper Basciano, 2B Ty Wisniewski, OF Mason Fridley. P: Utl Lucas Peterson, SS Lukas Colton, 1B: Fischer White, OF Zach Yoder.a

2 p.m.: Lower Burrell (13-11) vs. Bedford (11-6)

Managers: LB: Steve Scheftic. B: Andrew Lazar.

Players to watch: LB: SS Tyler Hanley, Adam Scheftic, Zach Hald, P Johnny Walker. B: P Tylar Decker, CF Reece Musselman, SS Justin Whysong.

5 p.m.: Hempfield East (16-6-1) vs. St. Michael (7-7)

Managers: HE: Scott Smith. SM: Denny Gramling

Players to watch: HE: SS Quinn Wilkins, OF Dom Rosensteel, C Colin Polechko, P Brandon Leatherman. SM: SS Brody Custer, P/OF Colbie Smiach, C/3B Jake Yatski, P Jake Singer.

At Portage High School, Portage

1 p.m.: Bushy Run (18-6-1) vs. Claysburg (12-5)

Managers: BR: Scott Peyman. C: Kyle Glass.

Players to watch: BR: SS Brody Hoffman, CF Jake Sincak, P Jon Lovre, P Brandon Roher, OF Carman Metcalfe. C: C Nathan Campagna, P Colton Harbaugh, 3B Ben Kormanski.

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.