Cardiac kids!! Big Valley 10/11s take PO in 11

By rscaife
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Updated: July 7, 2018

Big Valley’s single in the bottom of the 11th inning sends them into the winner take all District 5 final at the Reedsville Youth Park on Sunday at 6pm.

The Big Valley 10/11 All Star team was down but not out. Big Valley’s Michael McNitt led off the bottom half of the 11th inning with a bunt single. Evan Strohecker laid down a sacrifice bunt moving McNitt to 2nd base and set the table for Madden Weaver’s RBI single scoring McNitt to win the game.

Big Valley found themselves down 1 – 0 in the bottom of the first inning. Strohecker led off with a single, Jacob Bauman drew a walk and Owen Atherton singled to right field scoring Strohecker to tie the game.

With a pitching duel brewing between Big Valley’s Logan Alexander and Phillipsburg’s Gavin Kendrick, Big Valley found themselves down again 2 – 1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brayden Sunderland led off with a walk, Alexander singled up the middle, and Nathan Parkes singled scoring Sunderland to tie the game at 2 – 2.

Great defensive plays and clutch pitching by both teams sent the game into extra innings. Phillipsburg’s lead off hitter, Kephart, reached base on the only Big Valley error of the game. Phillipsburg’s Thompson was clutch singling to centerfield scoring Kephart from 3rd. Phillipsburg held a 3 – 2 lead going into the bottom half of the 7th inning. The Big Valley boys did not go away. Weaver walked, and reached second base on a passed ball. With 2 outs, Sunderland ripped a double down the 1st base line tying the game at 3 – 3.

Phillipsburg and Big Valley exchanged hits but solid defense and crafty pitching by both teams worked out of jams and plated zero runs until Madden Weaver’s single in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Big Valley’s Logan Alexander pitched 9 innings, allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and 88 pitches. Madden Weaver pitched 2 innings in relief, allowing 0 runs on 0 hits.

Big Valley was led offensively by Nathan Parkes 3 hits.

When asked after the game (10:25pm) Big Valley manager Stephen Alexander stated “As I said before, I have a team of baseball players.” Being down three times tonight, down to our final out once…they were determined”. “From the top of our lineup to the bottom, we belted 14 hits.” “The pitching tonight was masterful, you don’t see Little Leaguers pitch 9 innings in one game.” “Total team effort.” Alexander also added he wants the Youth Park full of red cheering this team on.

Big Valley will play Phillipsburg again on Sunday at the Reedsville Youth Park. First pitch at 6pm.