SCRANTON — Plains edged Abington American, 15-14, on a walk-off hit from Jason Prudente in the opening game of the Pennsylvania Section 5 9-10 year-old All-Star baseball tournament July 20 at the Green Ridge Little League field.
Abington American seemed to be in control early on in the contest, holding a 9-5 lead after three innings, but Plains scored 10 runs in the final three innings to complete the comeback.
“It was just a great game between two good teams,” Abington American head coach Gray-Paul Bossi said. “They got one extra hit at the end to win it.”
After a scoreless first inning, American struck for six runs in the top of the second. Nico Bossi started the scoring with an RBI single after singles by Brodie Robertson and Jack Burke. Mitchell Petty and Matt Show each drove in a run by drawing a walk with the bases loaded and three runs scored on a throwing error by Plains pitcher Ryan Novakowski.
Plains bounced back by scoring five runs in the bottom of the second. Jeremy Simonson singled and scored on an error. Joe Meager followed with an RBI single, Jacob Hunter reached on an error and later stole home, Prudente delivered an RBI single and Drew Menendez was credited with a RBI for drawing a walk with the bases loaded.
Abington American added three runs in the top of the third inning when Plains pitcher Sean Monahan walked three consecutive batters (Petty, Show and Garrett Pietryka) with the bases loaded.
After singles from Prudente and Menendez, Jack Mihalchik lined an RBI single. Hunter followed with an RBI single and Braeden Cook knocked in two runs with a single to tie the game, 9-9.
American regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Show drew a walk, his third of the game, with the bases loaded. Pietryka followed with an RBI single, Colin Davis drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Robertson smacked an RBI double.
Plains scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 13-11 when Abington American misplayed a grounder hit by Simonson.
An RBI groundout from Petty gave Abington American a three-run cushion heading to the bottom of the sixth, but Plains pushed across four runs to advance to the winners’ bracket against Kingston/Forty Fort. After a bunt single from Hunter and walks by Monahan and Novakowski, Jeff Kozerski and Prudente each drove two runs with singles to clinch the victory.
With the loss, Abington American dropped to the losers’ bracket of the double elimination tournament.
Abington American defeated Green Ridge, 10-7, on July 21 to remain in the tournament. They were scheduled to play Kingston/Forty Fort at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22 in the losers’ bracket final. Colin Davis had three hits for American, including a double. Matt Show, Brodie Robertson, Jack Burke, and Garrett Pietryka each added two hits.
Plains defeated Kingston/Forty Fort, 18-15, July 21 to remain perfect in the bracket.
