HANOVER, Md. — Stripes & Strikes Post 76 stuck to a familiar formula for its next step to a possible berth in the American Legion World Series on Wednesday: dominant pitching, timely hitting and another victory.

Jordan Castrine, Aiden Timmons and Gavin Perkosky combined on a four-hitter as the Hazleton-based squad blanked host St. Mary’s Post 255 (Maryland), 4-0, in an opening-round game in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament under the lights at Joe Cannon Stadium.

Castrine worked the first five-plus innings on the mound, allowing only three base hits, while striking out seven and and walking none to pick up the win for the Pennsylvania state tournament runnerup. Timmons came on in relief in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving up one hit, fanning two and walking one before giving way to Perkosky with two base runners on in the seventh. Perkosky whiffed the only batter he faced for the game-ending out.

Stripes & Strikes (28-3) got the only run it needed in the top of the second when Bryant Diaz walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

In the third, Riley Katchur worked a walk, stole second, went to third on Ryan Racho’s sacrifice bunt and came home on Jamie Martoccio’s line single to left field. Martoccio also swiped second and later scored his team’s second run of the inning and third overall on Diaz’s RBI double to left.

The locals tacked on an unearned run in the top of the seventh to account for the final score.

Josh Witner went 3-for-3 with three singles to lead Stripes & Strikes Post 76 at the plate; Diaz doubled and Racho and Martoccio chipped in a single apiece. The winners also drew six walks and benefitted from three errors by their opponent.

A. Ford smacked a double for the Maryland team’s only extra base hit. Teammates A. Peed, E. Bean and C. Riley chipped in a single apiece.

Stripes & Strikes Post 76 will face the team from New Castle, Del. in a winners’ bracket game on Thursday evening. The Delaware squad beat another from Chesapeake, Va., 4-1, in an opening-round game earlir Wednesday

S&S Post 76……………. 012 000 1 — 4 6 0

St. Mary’s Post 255…… 000 000 0 — 0 4 3

Castrine, Timmons (6), Perkosky (7) and Witner; Brown, Buckley (7) and Powell.

W — Castrine. L — Brown

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL

Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament

At Joe Cannon Stadium

Hanover, Md.

Wednesday, Aug. 6

Game 1 — Cherry Hill, N.J. Post 372 5, Wheeling, West Va. Post 1 4

Game 2 — New Castle, Del. Post 30 4, Chesapeake, Va. Post 280 1

Game 3 — Cecil County, Md. Post 194 3, Bristol, Pa. Post 382 2

Game 4 — Hazleton Stripes & Strikes Post 76 4, St. Mary’s, Md. Post 255 0

Thursday, Aug. 7

Game 5 — Wheeling, West. Va. Post 1 vs. Bristol, Pa. Post 382, 9:30 a.m.

Game 6 — Chesapeake, Va. Post 280 vs. St. Mary’s, Md. Post 255, after Game 5

Game 7 — Cherry Hill, N.J. Post 372 vs. Cecil County, Md. Post 194, 4:30 p.m.

Game 8 — New Castle, Del. vs. Hazleton Stripes & Strikes Post 76, after Game 7

Friday, Aug. 8

Game 9 — Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 9:30 a.m.

Game 10 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 3:30 p.m.

Game 11 — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, after Game 10

Saturday, Aug. 9

Game 12 — Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 1 p.m.

Game 13 — Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 4 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 10

Game 14 — Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 1 p.m.

Game 15 — if necessary, 4 p.m.

Originally Published: August 6, 2025 at 11:21 PM EDT