Hollidaysburg one step from World Series
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BRISTOL, Conn. -- Hollidaysburg will be playing for a spot in the Little League World Series today.
The Pennsylvania state champion rolled past Washington D.C.'s Northwest Washington team, 13-0, in four innings on Thursday afternoon in an elimination game televised live on ESPN in the Little League Baseball 12U Mid-Atlantic Regional at A. Bartlett Giamatti Leadership Training Center.
"The kids were excited,'' Hollidaysburg manager Jim McGough said. "We talked with them a lot about adversity, and it just shows the character of this team on how they responded. They got the bats rolling and put on a big performance out there.''
The Hollidaysburg Area Summer Baseball League team will now face Delaware in the one-game regional championship at 3 p.m. today for the right to advance to Williamsport. The game will be televised live on ESPN.
Hollidaysburg lost to Delaware on Tuesday night in the second round, 5-4, in a game that was 2-2 until the final inning.
"I think we have a good idea of what to expect (from Delaware),'' McGough said. "We'll be prepared and have a good game plan coming into the game. If the kids are all smiles and enjoying themselves, we're going to be OK.''
On Thursday, Hollidaysburg beat Washington D.C. for the second time in the four-team tournament by banging out seven hits, including two home runs, while allowing just one hit.
Chase Link homered for the second straight game in the bottom of the first inning to put the local team up 1-0. After touching third base, Link made a bull's horns sign with his fingers, kicked up some dirt and ran and leaped onto home plate.
According to McGough, the bull power sign was something his players do as a tribute to the individuals with physical and intellectual challenges -- the Little League Challenger Division -- they met during the state championship tournament in Bradford.
"That was a huge momentum lift for our kids,'' McGough said. "It got the kids excited and helped propel us toward the victory.''
Link relieved starting pitcher Brody Dull with two runners on and no outs in the top of the second inning and worked out of the jam.
Hollidaysburg then added to its lead with a four spot in the bottom of the second. Link delivered a bases-loaded single to score two runs, and Braden Hatch and Caleb Detrick each drove in a run.
Hollidaysburg then broke the game open in the bottom of the third. Jackson Boob came off the bench and drilled a two-run homer and later smacked a three-run double in the same inning.
"Jackson was injured in the Delaware game and had been nursing an injury,'' McGough said. "But he was ready to go today and played lights out. He came off the bench and gave us a huge spark.''
Detrick also had a two-run single in the inning, and Nathan Phillips scored on a bases-loaded walk.
Link retired the side in the top of the fourth, and Hollidaysburg won via the 10-run mercy rule.
McGough said Link, Dull and Aspen Anderson are the only players on the team that will not be able to pitch in today's final due to exceeding pitch limits.
"We're excited with the pitching we have for the championship game,'' McGough said. "They've really embraced our culture that everyone on the team is able to perform. Our pitching will be ready.''
While Hollidaysburg played Thursday, Delaware's entry, Wilmington Naamans, watched after already having secured its spot in the final.
"We love playing baseball,'' McGough said. "The more we play, the more excited and confident our boys are. We got to play an extra game, and our kids embraced it.''
McGough said in preparation for today's final, his team will spend time with family, have a "lot of laughs'' and probably play some Tennyball, a form of baseball using a tennis ball.
He said he wants the kids to enjoy the experience, which included Link being interviewed on ESPN after Thursday's win.
"They understand the circumstances,'' McGough said. "We talk a lot about the mental part of the game and how to stay focused on going out and competing. Once they're between the lines, it's just kids playing a baseball game. It was the same then (at previous tournaments), and it's the same now.''
WASHINGTON D.C. (0): Rossi ss 200, Higginbotham cf 201, Trendl lf-3b 200, Young 1b 100, McClees 1b-p 100, Knight 2b 100, Rose rf 000, Daskal-Koss rf 100, Daniel p 100, Fedchak lf 000, Saad 3b-p 100, Paul 1b 100, Liddle c 000, Wander c 000. Totals -- 13-0-1.
PENNSYLVANIA (13): McGough ss 221, Link 3b-p 232, Hatch c 200, Detrick rf 212, Metzger 1b-lf-1b 110, Rabel lf-2b 120, Dull 1b 000, Boob 3b 212, Anderson cf 210, Phillips 2b-3b 120, Dively lf 100. Totals -- 16-13-7.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Washington D.C. 000 0XX-- 0 1 0
Pennsylvania 148 XXX--13 7 1
LOB--Washington D.C. 5, Pennsylvania 4. 2B--Boob. 3B--Higginbotham. HR--Link, Boob. RBI--Boob 5, Link 3, Detrick 3, Hatch, Rabel. HBP--Rabel, McGough, Metzger. CS--Higginbotham. WP--Link. LP--Daniel. SO--Link 6, Saad 1. BB--Dull 2, Link 2, Daniel 4, Saad 3. Wild pitch--Saad 2.