Lower Burrell Legion tops Homer City to lead District 31 1st-round series

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 | 9:24 PM

Lower Burrell Post 868 has the upper hand in its best-of-three District 31 first-round series with Homer City Post 493.

The Bulldogs scored three times over the first two innings of Tuesday’s series opener and then rode the pitching of starter Jonathan Walker (Kiski Area) and reliever Jake Smith (Kiski Area) as well as a strong defensive effort to a 3-1 victory over the Bearcats at Lower Burrell’s ABC Field.

“This certainly feels great,” said Lower Burrell manager Steve Scheftic, whose team entered the playoffs winners of five of its final six regular season games. “We did all of the things we talk about in terms of what works to keep the game simple, throwing a lot of strikes, pitching to contact, no free base runners, and if they do get on, keep them from moving up. It was a nice win.”

Lower Burrell, the No. 4 seed, can close out the series with a win Wednesday in Game 2 at First Commonwealth Field in Homer City. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.

Coach Scheftic said Colton Whitlock (Burrell) is expected to get the start.

If the No. 5 Bearcats win, the series-deciding Game 3 will be back at ABC Field on Thursday evening.

Homer City won two of the three meetings between the teams in the regular season.

“I think we can get the job done tomorrow,” said Dominick Hand (Kiski Area) who finished 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI as Lower Burrell collected eight hits. “We’re going to do everything we can to win that game and close them out.”

Bulldogs center fielder AJ McLafferty (Burrell) led off the bottom of the first with a walk and then stole second. With one out, Adam Scheftic (Burrell) doubled to drive in McLafferty to give Lower Burrell a 1-0 lead.

Hand’s double with two outs plated Scheftic to make it 2-0.

The bottom of the order made it happen in the bottom of the second. Catcher Noah Matson (Kiski Area) singled to lead off the frame and stole second. He came around to score on a double from Zach Zollinger (Kiski Area) to extend the lead to 3-0.

“Those hits and the runs over the first two innings were very beneficial because they really helped give us that momentum we needed,” Hand said.

Lower Burrell hoped to build on its three-run lead in the bottom of the third and loaded the bases with no outs on singles from Smith and Hand and a bunt hit from Tylar Hanley (Kiski Area).

But Homer City starter Connor James struck out the next two batters and induced a flyout to right to get out of the jam.

“It was tough, but it happens,” Hand said. “It’s baseball. We wanted to add on, but they made plays that inning to keep us off the board.”

James settled down the rest of the way as he retired the final 12 Bulldogs batters he faced overall. He finished with six strikeouts and one walk over his six innings of work.

“(James) did settle in pretty nicely after the first couple of innings,” coach Scheftic said. “He got out of that jam, and he changed it up on us with some off-speed pitches. It took us some time to adjust to that. He had great command and kept us off balance.”

Walker kept Homer City batters off balance through the first five innings. He struck out four, walked one and surrendered five hits. Sully VanHoose drove in the Bearcats’ lone run with a ground out to short in the top of the fifth.

Walker finished his outing with 71 pitches. Smith worked the final two innings, striking out three and walking none while giving up two hits.

Homer City threatened with two hits in the top of the seventh, but Smith and the Bulldogs defense shut the door. Smith ended the game by picking off James at second.

“I felt great. I felt loose,” Walker said. “I was able to work ahead in counts, and when they hit the ball, I had my defense working behind me. It feels good to know I can turn the ball over to Jake, and he will shut them down just like he did today.”

Hanley, like Hand, finished the game with a pair of hits for Lower Burrell.

“One of our coaches summed it up perfectly. He said our pitching was tremendous, and we hit just enough,” coach Scheftic said. “And sometimes, that’s baseball. Today, we will take that.”

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.