DERRICK CITY — It’s not over yet.
Punxsutawney used a walk-off walk to turn back the Bradford Regional Little League Minor Baseball All-Stars 3-2 Friday at Scott Field.
But the one-run game was Bradford’s only loss, so Punxsutawney will have to beat Bradford again to win the District 10 championship. Punxsy won the coin flip directly following the game and will host the title tilt at 4 p.m. Sunday.
Just like Monday’s first matchup with Punxsutawney, Bradford played as the visitors.
Unlike Monday, when Bradford rapped three hits to take a 1-0 lead right from the start, their first three hitters recorded three quick outs.
Punxsy took the 1-0 lead after one this time, when Paul Zimmerman grounded back to Brock Crappio on the mound but scored Ethan Smith. Both teams went scoreless in the second and third.
Beckett Burns came on to pitch in the third, leaving Bradford’s starter Crappio — and every other Bradford pitcher — eligible to throw Sunday. His first pitch collected the first out as catcher Caleb Weart sprang into action to haul in the pop-up.
Two batters later, Burns got Liam Mcintosh to ground out to Jameis Furlong at second, for a 4-3 putout to Mason Haynoski at first. With two outs and a runner on third, shortstop Maddon Splain fired home to Weart, catching the Punxsy runner trying to score and ending the inning.
Both teams plated a runner in the fourth.
Bradford’s Maddon Splain rounds third and heads for home, tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning.
Splain singled and later scored, racing home on an error. In Punxsy’s half, an error and two base hits put Smith in scoring position when Kaysen Cary launched a fly ball to Furlong, now playing left field, for the first out. Smith tagged up and scored just ahead of Furlong’s missile home.
Griffin Atteberry then made a heads up throw to Splain covering second for the second out. In the very next at-bat Vincent Miller crushed one to deep left, which Furlong tracked down once again to end the inning and keep it a 2-1 game.
“Jameis Furlong had a tremendous game in the field and made two incredible catches on the run in left field, which kept us in striking distance,” Bradford head coach Eric Haynoski declared. “Those were the two best catches I’ve seen in Little League baseball.”
Bradford’s Jameis Furlong made two difficult catches on the run in left field to keep the team within striking distance, trailing 2-1, after four innings.
Haynoski and Furlong both singled in the fifth but never found home. With Splain on the hill in the bottom of the fifth, he struck out the first batter swinging and calmly handled a grounder, tossing to Haynoski for the second out at first. Punxsy’s third hitter of the frame flew out to center fielder Teddy Henretta, running hard toward right.
Eli Reid led things off for Bradford in the sixth, reaching base when he wore one for the team. Bentlee Confer, who cracked a clutch two-run single late in Bradford’s 5-2 win over Punxsy on Monday, stepped into the box with confidence.
He promptly smashed a triple deep in center field to score Reid from first and tie the game 2-2, but was caught out trying for the go-ahead run at home. A base hit by Burns gave Bradford another baserunner, but he would be stranded there as Punxsy took up last bats.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded, Smith drew the walk-off walk for a 3-2 win.
“It was disappointing,” Haynoski said of the loss. “Punxsy did a great job putting the ball in play and putting the pressure on our defense.”
Crappio, Burns and Splain combined on the mound for Bradford to strike out four while allowing seven walks and five hits.
“All three pitchers did a great job,” Haynoski said. “I was happy with all three pitchers – they limited (Punxsy) to three runs.”
Bradford’s 12 runs per game through its first three contests would have been plenty of run support, but the minor boys were held to just two Friday.
Haynoski was perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2. He’s batting nearly 0.900 this postseason.
Mason Haynoski went 2-for-2 for the Bradford Regional Little League Minor Baseball All-Stars on Friday. Bradford fell 3-2, but gets another shot at the District 10 title Sunday when they travel for a rematch with Punxsutawney. See the full story on B-1.
“He’s been working really hard in practice,” Bradford’s skipper said. “He’s got a lot of confidence at the plate. I’m really proud of him.”
Also for Bradford, Splain, Weart, Burns and Furlong each singled, while Confer’s triple was the only extra-base hit of the game.
“Bentlee came up with a clutch hit that really sparked the team and tied it up,” Haynoski said. “I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s been working extremely hard in practice and has come up with two very clutch hits for us in the last couple of games.”
Brody Lupton at bat for Bradford.
Haynoski admitted the post-game team meeting was difficult.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in that huddle,” he said. “That’s when you know a team cares.
“It was terrible to see them lose, but to see the amount of heart and soul they put into this … our kids are hungry,” Haynoski said. “They can’t wait to get to practice (today). They’re already focused on Sunday.”
