The Birches are one win away from capturing the NorCo Legion title after winning the opening game in the best-of-three series over the weekend.

Towamensing and the Tamaqua 12’s also posted victories in the Panther Valley Little League Tournament over the weekend.

NORCO LEGION

Birches-Northampton

The Birches scored six runs in the top of the first inning en route to a 9-7 win over Northampton in Game 1 of the NORCO Legion Championship Series.

Nate Mostosky had a triple for the winners, who take advantage of three errors in the opening frame to build a 6-0 lead. Ryan Kymer was 3-for-4, while Nate Loch was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Blake Walters scattered seven hits over six innings to earn the win on the mound.

The second game in the best-of-three series is tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Saylorsburg Playground.

Birches 610 101 0 - 9 9 2

Northampton 012 200 2 - 7 7 4

Walters, Loch (7), Kymer (7) and Meitzler; Kovatch, Onushak (6) and Angstadt. W - Walters. L - Kovatch.

PVLL 11-12 TOURNAMENT

Towamensing-Franklin 11

Ben Negley collected three hits and knocked in three runs to lead Towamensing to a 14-7 victory over the Franklin Township 11’s.

Negley also recorded the pitching win.

Lukas Rivera added two hits and scored a pair of runs, while Xavier Ahner finished with two hits and two RBIs.

For FT, Steigerwalt reached base four times on a hit and three walks, and scored three times. Albert also crossed home twice for FT.

Anthracite-Tamaqua 12

Ace Schickram belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to cap the Tamaqua 12’s 11-1 victory over Anthracite.

Schickram finished 4-for-4 in the contest with two runs scored and three RBIs.

The winners also received two hits and a run scored from both Jake Fritzinger and Gavin Edmonds, while Aidan Elston added a hit, an RBI and three runs and Matthew Giuliano collected a hit and four RBIs.

Jaedon Vidzicki earned the pitching win, tossing four hitless innings. He allowed an unearned run and two walks while striking out nine.

Anthracite 000 01 - 1 1 2

Tamaqua12 111 26 - 11 12 1

W - Vidzicki.

SCH.-BERKS LEGION

Tamaqua-Kutztown

Kutztown posted a pair of wins in a Schuylkill-Berks Legion doubleheader against Tamaqua on Sunday.

Schaeffer tripled among his two hits with two runs scored in a 6-3 win for Kutztown in Game 1, while Mathias added two hits, a pair of RBIs and a run scored.

K. Schuler also had a hit and two RBIs for the winners.

Cian McLaughlin was 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Blue Sox, while Stephen Modesto and Steven Hoffman each had a hit and an RBI.

A dominant pitching performance helped Kutztown finish a sweep of Tamaqua with a 7-0 win in Game 2.

Gilbert struck out four while scattering four hits over seven innings of work without allowing a walk. Robert (two RBIs) and Schaeffer (RBI, run scored) were each 3-for-4 with a double, while Pizzelarti added two hits and an RBI. Hamm also added a double.

Stephen Modesto was 2-for-3 with a double for the Blue Sox. Blaise Gigli and Ryan Vecolitis also had hits for Tamaqua.

Game 1

Kutztown 040 101 0 - 6 9 2

Tamaqua 001 020 0 - 3 5 2

Deihl, Mathias (6) and K. Schuler; Modesto, Gigli (6) and Valentine. W - Deihl. L - Modesto.

Game 2

Tamaqua 000 000 0 - 0 4 2

Kutztown 011 023 x - 7 11 2

Vecolitis and Hoffman; Gilbert and Hamm. W - Gilbert. L - Vecolitis.

Tamaqua-Hamburg

Hamburg swept a doubleheader against Tamaqua in Schuylkill-Berks Legion action on Saturday.

Tristan Baer tossed a gem and got plenty of run support to lead Hamburg to an 11-0 win in five innings in Game 1.

Baer struck out eight, allowing just three hits while surrendering one walk to earn the victory.

Isaac Krick (two runs scored), Conner Licklider (RBI, three runs scored) and Ty Shuey (RBI, run scored) each had two hits apiece for the winners. Ricky Clark (two runs scored) and Austin Gould also added a hit and two RBIs.

Timmy Fritzinger had two hits for the Blue Sox. Stephen Modesto also added a hit.

Tristan Baer’s big day at the plate lifted Hamburg to a 9-5 victory over Tamaqua in Game 2.

Baer was 3-for-3 with a home run, double and two RBIs with two runs scored. Conner Licklider added two hits with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Luke Bensinger collected a hit with two RBIs and a run scored. Isaac Krick also had a double and a run scored.

Gianni Valentine doubled among his two hits with two RBIs and a run scored for the Blue Sox, who scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning after scoring one in the sixth. Stephen Modesto also had a hit, RBI and a run scored.

Game 1

Tamaqua 000 00 - 0 3 1

Hamburg 203 6x - 11 10 2

Fannock and Valentine; Baer and Bensinger. W - Baer. L - Fannock.

Game 2

Hamburg 400 000 5 - 9 9 1

Tamaqua 000 001 4 - 5 6 3

Fetherolf and Krick; Fritzinger, McLaughlin (7) and Hoffman. W - Fetherolf. L - Fritzinger. HR: Hamburg - Baer (7th, one on).