Lower Burrell Legion reflects on growth, potential for sustained success

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 | 6:15 PM

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Things started well for Lower Burrell Post 868 at the Region 7 American Legion playoffs.

The Bulldogs got a strong pitching performance from Colton Whitlock in a 4-1 win over the Bedford Hurricanes on Saturday.

But Lower Burrell wasn’t able to continue their winning ways, and losses to Latrobe and Claysburg on Sunday and Monday eliminated the Bulldogs.

Despite the tough end to regionals, Lower Burrell manager Steve Scheftic said the team, which finished 14-12-1 overall, grew in a positive way throughout the season.

“Every team has to have the right players to find success, and I felt we had a team full of outstanding ballplayers who supported each other,” Scheftic said. “As the season went on, we jelled through the ups and downs that each team is going to face. We got stronger as we believed in each other.”

Whitlock needed just 58 pitchers — 45 were strikes — to finish off a complete-game four-hitter against Bedford. He struck out three and walked one. The Hurricanes’ run was unearned.

Adam Scheftic went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored, and Dominick Hand also collected two hits. AJ McLafferty doubled and scored a run.

“That was a really nice start,” coach Scheftic said. “Coming into the game, we saw that we were facing Ty Decker, who is Pitt-Johnstown commit and a lefty throwing upper-80s to us with really good stuff.

“Colton also closed out districts for us, and our mindset was that we trusted him to help get us a win. He was really efficient and solid throughout the game. It also left us a lot of flexibility with the staff for the rest of the tournament.”

Latrobe scored twice in the first, three times in the second, and once in the third to take a 6-2 lead en route to a 14-2 victory.

“It didn’t start out the way we anticipated, for sure,” coach Scheftic said.

“There were some circumstances the team was dealing with that would’ve been difficult for any team to overcome once they got behind. I also want to give props to Latrobe. They were hungry and wanted a little revenge after we bumped them from a chance to win a district title. They came out and not only pitched tremendously but played with fire and took it to us that game.”

Lower Burrell wasn’t able to get on the board in a 2-0 elimination-game loss to Claysburg. Tylar Hanley and Noah Matson combined to give up just four hits over six innings.

“We played a really well-coached and solid Claysburg team,” coach Scheftic said.

“Their No. 2 hitter (Mason Campagna) is a D-I commit to Penn State. He’s a tremendous catcher with a huge bat. I thought the guys played (Claysburg) really well. It was a great pitching matchup. I thought we had two tremendous efforts, one from Tylar to start. We limited him to 45 (pitches) so we had him available for Wednesday if we moved on. Noah was great in relief. He’s usually our catcher, but he came in and did a tremendous job for three innings. We just couldn’t quite get the timely hit, and we had a couple of baserunning errors that cost us.”

Henry Krogh singled twice to lead Lower Burrell. Hand also singled.

The game with Claysburg at regionals capped a 5-4 playoff run.

“As a program, the players and coaches really discovered what it meant and what it took to advance to regionals and the level of play that you see at the regional tournament with the opportunity to play for a state title the following week,” coach Scheftic said.

“Now, we know what we can communicate to the kids even before tryouts so that every player and every family understands what Legion baseball is about and what commitment it will take in terms of time and also effort. That is going to help us really well in the future.”

Only four players — starters McLafferty, Johnny Walker Ryan Bates, and Jacob Smith — will not be age-eligible to return next year.

Fourteen team members are eligible to return.

“Seeing the type of baseball we were able to put on the field and the level of play the opponents bring, we’re expecting a little more exposure and interest in the program,” coach Scheftic said.

“The players moving on are so talented, and they will be tough to replace. But I think we will have players come in and work hard to help keep the program moving in the right direction and the team playing at a high level.”

Scheftic is excited to see how the players eligible to return fare in the fall, winter and spring in and out of competition and come back improved for next Legion season.

Four who were seniors this past school year will enter college programs. Hanley will play at Lycoming College, while Matson, Hand and Nolan Brouwer will be at Westmoreland County Community College.

“The whole team, when we talked after the last game, was excited for the prospects for next season,” coach Scheftic said. “Even the guys who are going off to college were talking about coming back next season. That tells you a lot right there.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.