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West End's 14-year-old all-star team is regional-bound after defeating Keystone, 8-2, to advance to today's Babe Ruth state championship game.
The top two teams in the state automatically qualify for the Mid-Atlantic Regional, which will be held next week in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
West End broke the game open in the fourth inning by scoring five runs. Christian Franzen, Kyreek Bradshaw and Ethan Nagy all came up big with RBI singles. Nagy also stole home for the inning's fifth run.
Franzen was the team's only multiple-hit batter as he went 2 for 2 with a double and run scored. Gino Birch also had a hit.
Bradshaw threw four strong innings before Chase Kelley came in during the fifth inning to relieve him and threw great to keep Keystone at bay.
BABE RUTH ALL-STARS
14-YEAR-OLDS
STATE TOURNAMENT
West End 8, Keystone 2
Keystone 000 110 0 – 2 7 2
West End 030 500 x – 8 5 1
Laughner, Lavell (5), Laughner (6) and Hoy. Kyreek Bradshaw, Chase Kelly (5) and Caiden Helmrich. W-Bradshaw. L-Laughner.
Top Keystone hitters: Brungard 3-3; Laughner 1-1, run; Seltzer 1-3, run. Top West End hitters: Christian Franzen 2-2, 2B, run; Kyreek Bradshaw 1-1, RBI; Ethan Nagy 1-3, run; Gino Birch 1-2, run.
Next game: West End vs. Altoona today, 5 p.m., Babe Ruth 14-year-old state championship.