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’Burg rises to meet the moment

Hollidaysburg, Pa.'s Chase Link, left, is greeted by Hagerstown, Ind.'s Clark Thornburg as he rounds third after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against Hagerstown, Ind., at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Tonight

Who: Hollidaysburg vs. Pearland, Texas

When: 7 p.m.

TV: ESPN

At stake: Winner plays Thursday night against today’s Tennessee-Hawaii loser.

By Neil Rudel

nrudel@altoonamirror.com

WILLIAMSPORT — We already know Hollidaysburg has made history by becoming the first team ever from Blair County to participate in the Little League World Series.

And to still be playing 12 days after arriving — let alone this well — has exceeded every expectation.

Could it be a team of destiny?

The Boys from the ‘Burg continued their strong run through the LLWS by dominating Hagerstown, Indiana, 10-0, Tuesday in a game stopped after four innings due to the mercy rule.

After an opening-game loss to Texas, Hollidaysburg has now won three straight in advancing to the U.S. semifinals.

In case that hasn’t sunk in, read it again: Hollidaysburg is two wins from a possible matchup — presumably against perennial power Hawaii — in Saturday’s U.S. championship game.

While the players are enjoying the moment and trying not to look too far ahead, they’re also well aware of the dwindling bracket.

“We’ve watched a lot of the games so we know what’s going on,” Hollidaysburg manager Jim McGough said. “We’ve had a chance to meet all the teams as well. It’s hard not to know.”

Hollidaysburg’s performance since the Mid-Atlantic Region championship game has been a joy to watch. And it’s been easy to watch since ESPN has shined a positive light on this team and our town for nine straight games.

What a commercial. Baseball writer/ESPN commentator Tim Kurkjian was juggling a Slinky and singing the jingle of what was once the world’s most famous toy, manufactured by the James family in Hollidaysburg 80 years ago.

On the field, the team has been just as impressive.

They have one of the premier sluggers in the entire tournament in Chase Link, who hits balls from here to Lock Haven.

Tuesday brought his third jack in four games and fifth in his last eight, dating back to the regional. Only Aaron Judge and Albert Pujols are on this pace.

But when the opponent pitches around Link, Hollidaysburg answers with Caleb Dietrich and Bo Rabel, Aspen Anderson and Jackson Boob.

Collectively, the team is hitting .347 and has outscored its opposition 25-6 in the last three games.

Even their outs are loud.

“We’ve hit the ball throughout the tournament season, especially with two strikes and being able to be prepared for that moment,” McGough said. “We expect to be able to hit the ball.”

Hollidaysburg is excellent defensively and extremely versatile. It doesn’t beat itself. It is patient at the plate, goes deep in counts and runs the bases well.

The team warms up with major league efficiency.

McGough has maneuvered his pitching rotation between Braden Hatch, Brody Dull, Anderson, Link, and Ty McGough.

And while the locals may not have a dominant pitcher, they also haven’t run into one — in part because they hit so well from top to bottom.

“When we hit the ball hard, especially out of the ballpark, it lights the fire,” McGough said. “The way the pitching is set up and the momentum we have, we’re excited for the next opportunity.”

That comes tonight against Texas, a rematch of Hollidaysburg’s opening-round loss in which the locals were tied 2-2 entering the fifth before the only bad inning they’ve played here opened the floodgates to an 8-3 loss.

Link and the players admitted to some nerves that night and are eager for another chance.

“I like the focus of our team,” he said.

Hollidaysburg has risen to this moment, and the more you see this team play — how it is so fundamentally sound, how it exudes a love of the game — the more you get the idea that it just may not be done.

Rudel can be reached at 814-946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.

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