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DPLWS championship game set

It is said that defense wins championships, but apparently no one told that to the Cumming Motors and McCabe Trucking youth baseball teams before their respective semifinal games at the Dean Patterson Little World Series on Thursday.

East End’s Cumming Motors used five first-inning runs to defeat Penn Med, 14-2, in five innings in Thursday’s first semifinal, while Claysburg’s McCabe Trucking pounded five home runs in the nightcap to rout Dean Patterson, 14-2, in five innings at Altoona Independent Youth Baseball League’s Centennial Field.

The teams will meet on Saturday at 8 p.m. for the championship game.

Cumming Motors strung together five consecutive hits in the top of the first inning to take an early 5-0 advantage, and picked up four more in the second inning that extended its lead to 9-1 .

The East End champions finished with 15 hits, including three each from Erik Rhodes and Dylan McNelly, while Travis Luensmann drove in four runs.

“Each game these kids come to play,” Cumming Motors coach Kevin Stewart said. “I can honestly say they have the heart and the drive to win. When they walk on the field, they don’t want anything (but to win).”

McNelly used one of his three doubles in the game to make the game 12-2 in the fourth inning, before leadoff hitter Mark Stewart ended the game – via the 12-run rule enforced in the tournament – with a two-run home run in the top of the fifth.

“I’ve never had a team from top to bottom that can hit like this team can,” Stewart said.

P.J. Charles homered for Penn Med, and Jessiah Witherspoon added an RBI.

“They’re a solid team,” Penn Med coach Brett Sanders said of Cumming. “They are consistent all the way through the lineup. They are a tough out.”

Cumming Motors has scored 47 runs in its three tournament games, but if there is one team that has been equally impressive, it has been McCabe Trucking, which has scored 46 runs.

Dean Patterson started off the game against McCabe with runners on second and third and no outs, but failed to score.

That is about all that went right for the East End entry.

Parker and Hunter Dibert had singles to start the second inning for McCabe, and Canaan Burkett stepped to the plate as the next batter and sent the first of his two home runs over the right-field fence.

Connor Oakes followed up the home run with a single, before Corey Chamberlain hit McCabe’s second home run of the inning.

Burkett finished with two home runs and struck out seven to get the win. Seth Musselman and Sammy Moyer each added round trippers for McCabe.

Burkett finished with four hits and five RBIs, while Parker Dibert chipped in with four hits and Corey Chamberlain added three.

“Some of these kids can hit the ball,” McCabe Trucking coach Ben Chamberlain said. “Like Musselman, my son, Corey, and Burkett, they’re unbelievable. When they get into a ball, it can go a long way.”

Dean Patterson picked up its two runs in the fourth inning on a home run by Nick Plank, while Alex Berardinelli had two doubles.

“(McCabe Trucking) took advantage of their opportunities,” Dean Patterson coach Carl Adams said.

Hunter Dibert ended the game in the fifth inning when he singled in Moyer to put the 12-run rule into effect.

“We put together a good team with power,” Chamberlain said. “It’s unbelievable. They’re a bunch of close friends that have what it takes to make a good team. I’m proud of them. We had this tournament circled back in March. We came in today and played awesome ball.”

Penn Med and Dean Patterson will play the consolation game at 6 p.m. before Cumming Motors and McCabe Trucking meet for the title.

The home run derby and base-running contenst will take place tonight at Centennial Field.

CUMMING MOTORS (14): Stewart cf-p 422, Rhodes 333, Scalice 222, T. Luensmann 332, Whetstine 221, McNelly 313, Adams 300, J. Luensmann 312, Delguidice 200, Lawson 100, Naglowsky 200. Totals – 28 14 15.

PENN MED (2): Witherspoon 2b 201, J. Charles ss 211, Green p 200, Gochnaur 3b 201, Koelle 1b 200, Sanders cf 200, Cornelius lf 111, B. Charles ph 100, Casalvieri c 100, Rott rf 000. Totals -15 2 4.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Cumming Motors540 32X X-14 15 0

Penn Med110 0XX X-2 4 0

2B-McNelly 2, T. Luensmann, Rhodes, J. Luensmann. 3B-T. Luensmann, Whetstine. HR – Charles, Stewart. RBI-T. Luensmann 4, McNelly 3, Stewart 2, Scalice 2, Whetstine 2, J. Luensmann. WP-Whetstine. LP-Green. SO-Whetstine 4, Stewart, Green. BB-Whetstine, Green 3.

MCCABE TRUCKING (14): Burkett p 424, Oakes 2b 411, Chamberlain ss 433, Musselman 1b 322, J. Ridenour c 411, Moyer 3b 422, L. Ridenour rf 300, Brown ph 100, P. Dibert lf 424, H. Dibert cf 312. Totals – 34 14 19.

DEAN PATTERSON (2): Ross cf 200, Berardinelli p 202, Whaley ss 200, Day 1b 100, Frye 2b 200, Della 2b 110, Plank c 211, Eichenlaub rf 100, Campagna lf 100, McGraw lf 100. Totals -15 2 3.

SCORE BY INNINGS

McCabe Trucking062 33X X-14 19 0

Dean Patterson000 2XX X- 2 3 1

E-Ross. 2B-Berardinelli 2, Musselman, P. Dibert, J. Ridenour. HR – Burkett 2, Plank, Chamberlain, Musselman, Moyer. RBI-Plank 2, Burkett 5, Chamberlain 2, Moyer 2, Musselman 2, H. Dibert. WP-Burkett. LP-Berardinelli. SO-Burkett 7, Berardinelli 4. BB-Burkett 4, Berardinelli 2.

Umpires: Tom Stoner, Brett Stoner, Mike Endress, Bill Johnston.

DP holds on for late win

Dean Patterson outlasted Greenwood Meadows, 16-15, in the Dean Patterson Little League World Series quarterfinals at Centennial Field late Wednesday night.

Marcus Day and Nick Plank each hit two home runs for Dean Patterson, and Trent Whaley added another homer.

Mason Criswell had five hits and homered for Greenwood Meadows.

DEAN PATTERSON 16, GREENWOOD MEADOWS 15: HR-Whaley, Day 2, Plank 2 (DP); Criswell (GM). Multiple hits – Berardinelli 3, Whaley 3, Day 2, Frye 3, Barton 2 (DP); Criswell 5 (GM). SO-Criswell 2, Carothers 1, Savoy 1 (GM); Whaley 6, Della 2 (DP).

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