Lehigh Bethlehem’s Senior Connie Mack baseball team entered the Pennsylvania State Tournament with a 4-2 win over Cheltenham on July 26 at Limeport Stadium in Coopersburg, Pa.

Will Cresci’s bases-loaded RBI single to left field scored Willie Cruz for Lehigh Bethlehem’s first run in the bottom of the first inning.

Joel Schreckinger’s base hit scored Cole Collins, and Braden Beck’s sacrifice fly scored Colin Panik for a 3-1 lead.

Schreckinger shut down a Cheltenham steal on the Lehigh Bethlehem catcher’s throw to Panik at third base in the top of the second.

“I saw him hesitate a little bit to the bag, and I almost couldn’t get around him, so I had to go straight through the batter to get him out, and it was a perfect throw, perfect timing, and a great tag by Colin,” Schreckinger said. “It was a great momentum turn. I think we got a couple runs after that, so it was a great momentum-turning play, and it kept us going.”

Cheltenham scored its second run on back-to-back doubles in the top of the fifth inning.

Cresci singled past the infield to get on base in the bottom of the fifth.

“I was just thinking, get over the shortstop,” Cresci said. “I definitely watched that one.”

Schreckinger followed with a base hit down the left field line and got to second base on the throw in.

“I had that line drive that went foul earlier, and then lined out to center, so I was trying to hit the gap and made sure I kept my head down and drive the ball,” Schreckinger said. “It also felt good because I was on a little bit of a cold streak for hitting, so it was a great turnaround.”

Lehigh Bethlehem was unable to score with runners on second and third base, however.

“I felt we just had to get back out there and keep holding them,” said Cresci.

In the top of the sixth inning, Lehigh Bethlehem’s Willie Cruz relieved Cole Collins on the mound with two Cheltenham runners on base and two outs.

Then, Aidan Knout’s hit bounced behind Cruz, who spun around on the hop and threw to first base for the third out.

“Willie’s fastball is super dominant, so I wanted to get strikes,” said Schreckinger. “They weren’t putting too many good hits on the ball, so I was like, just put it in the zone, and if they were hitting it, we were able to get outs most of the time. When it came down to his curveball, it was just dirty.

“That first batter in the seventh inning (Avril Walls, Jr.) was all over everything tonight. We got him in a 0-2 count, but he won the at bat, the battle, but it was really special to get to catch him. Knowing the type of pitcher Willie is on the mound, I think I was a little stress-free right there. I knew Willie would get out of it.”