New Era Tournament

1996 Midget-Midget Quarterfinals
Willow Street Cardinals 15, Ephrata Cubs 1
Mount Joy Blue 10, Rheems Gray 2
Warwick Phillies 6, Ephrata Lions 1

Three teams advance in New Era Tourney

By Dave Byrne
New Era Correspondent

    Midget-Midget action in the 51st annual New Era Tournament continued Saturday afternoon in a quarterfinal triple-header at Mt. Joy's Kunkle Field. After the dust, grass, chalk, and smoke cleared three teams joined the Manheim Township Royals in the semifinals Wednesday evening back at Kunkle.
     Here's how Saturday's action played out:

Willow Street Cardinals 15, Ephrata Cubs 1     A five-run second inning opened the flood gates for the Cradinals who bettered their season record to 39-2. Pitcher Ryan Ewing paced the way by throwing a complete game and only allowing one hit while striking out 12 batters.
    Also chipping in was shortstop Stevie Williams who homered and drove in three in the rout that featured 13 Cardinal stolen bases.
    Willow Street will face Manheim Township in the first game of the Wednesday night semifinal double-header

Mt. Joy Blue 10, Rheems Gray 2     Chris Heisey belted three hits and pitcher Ryan Sutter drove in two as Mt. Joy held off Rheems.
    Neither team scored until the fourth inning when Mt. Joy scored four times and then added five more when the game was decided late.
    Sutter took the win by pitching four innings while allowing just one hit and striking out six.

(Click on photo to enlarge or see other photos)

Warwick Phillies 6, Ephrata Lions 1     Phillies pitcher Mike Berkey saved the days best performance for last as he paced his team to a semifinal matchup with Mt. Joy Blue in Wednesday's nightcap.
    Berkey went the distance and struck out 16 in the six inning game. The tall righthander struck out the first 13 batters and was overpowering the first time through the Lions lineup.
    In addition to Berkey's heroics, centerfielder Andrew Turner went three-for-three with an RBI.
    Gallant in defeat was the Lions pitcher Ross Buckwalter. Ephrata's righty pitched six innings and struck out 12 but just couldn't get the support his counterpart Berkey received.