The Lehigh Valley Carpenter Cup team saw its tournament run end last week with a 5-1 loss to Jersey Shore.

The defeat marked the fifth consecutive year that the Lehigh Valley squad was eliminated in its opening game of the prestigious tournament sponsored by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Lehigh Valley managed just three hits, coming from Jaxson Kreider (Bangor), Daifer Moreta (William Allen) and Braydon Green (Pleasant Valley), while striking out 14 times. The team’s lone run came in the seventh inning when Tanner Karwacki (Emmaus) drove in Evan Przyuski (Southern Lehigh) on a fielder’s choice after three walks loaded the bases.

Jersey Shore built a 5-0 lead by scoring in four consecutive innings. Brody Powers of Point Pleasant Beach highlighted the offense with a two-run double in the third inning.

Despite the loss, Lehigh Valley’s pitching staff combined to allow just six hits and two earned runs while recording 10 strikeouts. Pen Argyl’s Cayden Vishnesky led the way with four strikeouts, while William Allen’s Alejandro Cartagena and Nazareth’s Zak Novak added two strikeouts each.

Bethlehem-area players Aidan Brophy of Bethlehem Catholic and Brayden Kashner of Liberty were members of the Lehigh Valley roster, which entered the tournament hopeful of making a deep postseason run.

Lehigh Valley’s last Carpenter Cup victory came in 2021 when it defeated Olympic Colonial in the quarterfinals.