Locate. Mix your pitches. Hit your spots. Get ahead in the count. Keep batters off balance. Pitch to contact. Trust your defense.

Young Brandon Breidegan is so much more than a thrower, he’s a pitcher. And when Breidegan was on the mound, Fredericksburg had a chance.

On Sunday evening at Fredericksburg’ Earl Wenger Memorial Field, Breidegan earned a no-decision, as his F-burg side dropped a 6-5, eight-inning affair to Richland, in the second championship game of the Lebanon County American Legion baseball league’s six-team, double-elimination tournament. But after the contest, Breidegan earned the Warren ‘Lefty’ Grumbine award for his outstanding pitching during the local summer league’s postseason.

Against Richland’s potent lineup, the 16-year-old righthander’s quality start helped Fredericksburg jump out to a 5-2, fifth-inning lead. But Breidegan was lifted in the sixth and his relief could not hold the lead.

Earlier in the tournament, Breidegan had twirled a three-hit, 5-0 shutout of Annville at Earl Wenger Memorial Field. In that particular contest, Breidegan kept his pitch count below 80, struck out two and walked three.

– Jeff Falk