It took a pitcher from a national-championship college team to end the Bethel Park American Legion team's 14-game winning streak Tuesday.

Hopewell edged Bethel Park, 3-2, in the first round of the Region 6 double-elimination playoffs at Burkett Field in Robinson.

Hopewell's Scott Dunn struck out 14 and gave up only three hits. Hopewell erased a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs. Bethel Park had two extra innings to come back because regional playoff games are nine innings, not the standard seven. Bethel, however, didn't mount much of a threat after it fell behind.

	Alyssa Cwanger, Post-Gazette Bethel Park American Legion baseball manager Tony Fisher hugs Andy Kountz after he pitched a 3-1 victory against Springdale in the Allegheny League playoffs. Click photo for larger image.

Bethel did have runners on first and second with one out in the eighth. But Dunn struck out the next two batters.

The loss put Bethel Park (23-5) in the loser's bracket yesterday afternoon. Bethel Park was seeking its first region title since 2002.

Dunn, a 2005 South Side Beaver graduate, pitched as a freshman this spring for Marietta College. He was 3-2 with a 2.95 ERA and four saves for Marietta (43-11), which defeated Wheaton (Ill.) for the NCAA Division III title on May 30.

There are no college pla=yers on Bethel Park's team.

Mike Gielata lost for only the second time this season. He gave up four hits in six innings. He was relieved for two innings by left-hander Mark Foster, who did not give up a hit. Foster, who started the game in right field, is going into his junior year at Bethel Park.

Bethel Park reached the regional playoffs for the second year in a row by defeating Carrick 6-0; Shaler, 6-4; and Springdale, 3-1, in the Allegheny County playoffs last week.

Left-hander Tyler Zaremski, a recent Bethel grad, blanked Carrick on two hits. Gielata, also a 2006 grad, was the winner versus Shaler with a save from Brett Ferlic. Gielata and Ferlic are Washington & Jefferson recruits. Andy Kountz, a rising junior, was the winning pitcher against Springdale.

Through Tuesday, first baseman Luke Marsh was hitting .443 with 21 RBIs; catcher Dan Cybulski was at .425 with 20 RBIs, and second baseman Dave Dimperio was at .373 with three home runs. Dimperio also will play at W&J. The other two will be seniors.

DH Mike Leviseur, class of 2008, was hitting .410 with team highs of four homers, 30 RBIs. He led Bethel Park against Hopewell with two hits, including a double.

Third baseman Zack McMonagle, a rising junior, drove in the other run with a single. Another rising junior who has played a key role is shortstop Ed Kessler.

"Our defense on the left side has been pretty flawless between Brett Ferlic at third and Eddie Kessler at shortstop," Bethel manager Tony Fisher said.

Bethel Park finished second in the Southern League to Houston (23-3). Houston lost its first-round game to unbeaten Blackhawk on Tuesday, 18-7.Bethel Park American Legion baseball manager Tony Fisher hugs Andy Kountz after he pitched a 3-1 victory against Springdale in the Allegheny League playoffs. Bethel Park advanced to this week's Region 6 tournament in Robinson.