North Bethlehem Little League played host to the Pennsylvania State Little League Tournament for the Intermediate 50/70 division, ages 11-13, on July 10-15, when seven teams from across Pennsylvania competed for the state title.

Keystone Little League from Section 3 in Beech Creek won the tournament with an 11-10 victory over West Side from Section 7 in West Chester in the final on July 15.

Prior to the start of the tournament, North Bethlehem held a banquet for all the teams.

“We had our banquet for the kids, picnic style, which went over really great. It was a great turnout, the kids had fun and were out on the field, playing baseball,” said North Bethlehem Little League treasurer Dana Reaser. “It was the turn of Section 6 to host, and since no one else really had a team, they asked us if we wanted to host, so that’s how we got here.”

North Bethlehem’s team, managed by Colin Hutchinson, faced Haverford from Section 8 and Hollidaysburg from Section 4 but lost both games.

“Most of the kids played on the majors level or the juniors level, so they came together to make this all-star team,” Reaser said.

Players representing North Bethlehem were Harry Reynolds, Silas Chamberlin, Cameron Fredericks, Lucas Wagner, Andrew Dieter, Ethan Biddle, Danny Wickemeyer, Mason Kinsley, Noah Blanchet, Lochlann Price, Cassidy Lawson, Elan Levy-Gnyp, Carter Duarte, and Parker Chambers.

“We are in because we are the host,” said Reaser, “but we are also in because District 20 did not have another representative at the intermediate level, so we automatically took that flag for districts.”

East Stroudsburg from Section 6 and FLAG from Section 1 in Fairview also competed.