An unfortunate final play took some of the shine off what was otherwise a classic final game in the Region 2 American Legion playoffs at Boyertown’s Bear Stadium last week.

The victory went to North Parkland as the Buffaloes collected their first regional championship and trip to the state tournament with a 6-5 win over West Lawn.

The Buffaloes came into the game with a distinct advantage in pitching.

Thanks to a wily management of his team’s pitch counts, NP head coach Jay Marakovits was able to keep some arms fresh and available for Tuesday’s finale.

On the other side of the diamond, West Lawn was getting low on available arms and that was complicated by the turn of events in the bottom of the first inning.

With the Owls getting a run in the top of the first, Julian Martinez took the mound for West Lawn and promptly walked the first three batters to load the bases. West Lawn coach Scott Spatz had to use a quick hook and called on Alex Ernesto in relief. A fielder’s choice, two more walks and a single allowed North Parkland to go up 3-1.

But it wasn’t time to the celebration just yet.

West Lawn got to North Parkland starter Noah Trager for a run and an error tied the game with two outs and a runner on first. Trager walked a batter and Christo Hunsicker doubled to drive in another run as the Owls regained the lead at 4-3.

The Buffaloes put together a two-out rally in their half of the second when Tsubasa Magota and Nate Unger both singled to put runners on first and third. An error on Martinez, who had moved to third base, allowed Magota to score, but Unger was cut down at the plate to end the inning with the game tied at 4-4.

“I enjoy baserunning because it’s part of the fundamentals and I work on those things a lot,” said Magota. “That’s how I help my team, that and defense.”

At that point, Trager settled in and locked up the West Lawn offense through the fifth inning. Ernesto made it through the fourth and Ben Shaub took over, throwing a scoreless bottom of the fifth inning for the Owls.

“I was just trying to stay calm and collected; I would say cool, but it was kind of hot today,” said Trager with a laugh. “I was struggling a little early and was kind of flying open and rushing myself, but I brought it back in and got the job done for the team.”

“The way we saw Noah pitch this season,” said Marakovits of the Marywood College student who is playing his final season of Legion baseball. “If there was one guy we really had confidence in to battle through a situation like that, it’s him. I told him after the second inning to try to give us four innings and a fifth would be a bonus, so for him to get through six innings showed a lot of guts and confidence. I’m so proud of him for that.”

Trager didn’t go untouched in the sixth as he gave up an RBI double to Hunsicker that put West Lawn up 5-4.

In the bottom of the inning, Andrew Beers and Magota worked walks and then pulled off a double steal. Unger hit a fly ball to center that was deep enough to score Beers and Magota went to third but wound up stranded there with the game tied 5-5.

Leo Dauberman came on for Trager in the seventh and put the Owls down in order, setting up the potential walk-off win for North Parkland. Bradley got the first out before walking Dauberman on four pitches. A wild pitch moved the runner to second, but Bradley got a short fly ball to right, keeping Dauberman from moving to third with two outs.

Steven Sepko then lined a single to right to put runners on first and third. Jared Santilli came in to run for Sepko and swiped second base while Bradley pitched carefully to Aiden Henning and walked him to load the bases.

Beers worked the count to 3-1 with the bags loaded and two outs.

That’s when, for some inexplicable reason, Bradley attempted to pickoff Santilli, who had a small lead at second base, and neither of the middle infielders were there to cover. The throw sailed into center field and Dauberman came in from third to score the winning run that set off the celebration.

Magota had a big tournament for the Buffaloes, going 6-for-13 (.462) with eight runs scored – at least one in every game – seven walks, five RBI, and five stolen bases for North Parkland. Magota also played a flawless shortstop.

“I didn’t get to play as much as I had hoped during the high school season,” said the rising Parkland High School senior. “So I came into the Legion season looking to play and do my best for the team. I was focusing on defense and baserunning because those are the fundamental parts of the game and what I can do well. It’s exciting that we get to keep playing and get to go to states.”

As Region 2 champ, Parkland advanced to compete in the state championships in Erie.