Manhattan Beach 6, Holmes County 3, after nine innings
Hawks gutsy effort in Game 4 results in elimination
By Dave Mast
August 21, 2010
305
Heading into their final pool play game against undefeated Manhattan Beach, California in the Senior Little League World Series, Holmes County knew it had an uphill battle in making the Final 4, knowing it needed to post a large number of runs to incite a tie-breaker between themselves, California and Aruba.
That didnt stop the Hawks from playing perhaps one of their finest games against a team that is one of the favorites to win the World Series.
But a gutsy effort, great pitching and nearly flawless defense was not enough to overcome some timely hitting by Manhattan Beach, and the Hawks bowed out of the World Series at 2-2 following a nine-inning 6-3 loss.
We left everything on the field today, said Hawks manager Mike Yoder. We fought hard, we played great against a great team and we worked hard to win this game. We competed and I was absolutely thrilled with the effort.
Brad Schlabach toed the rubber for Holmes County, and kept the hefty California line-up in check after allowing two runs early. The Hawks ace settled in nicely, and after getting touched for a run in the third and fourth innings, threw a fantastic game.
I couldnt have asked for anything more from Brad, said Yoder. He did what he has done the whole tournament run, and that was battle.
Meanwhile, the Hawks were starting to catch up to Manhattan Beach starter Turner Conrad. Hiland crept to within 2-1 in the fourth when Luke Burch led off with a single, BJ Miller and Blake Bunch were both hit by a pitch and Richie Mast singled in Burch. However, with the bases loaded, a Neil Mast sharp grounder went right to shortstop Austin Henning to end the threat.
Holmes County clicked again in the fifth, when Ryan Troyer doubled to start the inning, went to third on a fast ball with one out and scored on Burchs groundout. The Hawks then put two more runners on when Schlabach singled and Miller walked, but hot-hitting Brandon Wengerd hit a sharp grounder that also found Hennings glove.
Schlabach left the game in the seventh, after walking his only two men with one out. Burch came on and displayed tremendous poise in striking out the next two California hitters.
While Burch dominated the Manhattan Beach line-up through the next two innings, the Hawks couldnt solve Morgan Ascher, who, while not overpowering, proved that he knew how to pitch by mixing speeds and keeping hitters off balance, striking out five in a row at one point.
I knew Id be called on late in the game at some point, said Ascher, who has been closing for California throughout its 19-0 winning streak. I hoped to go only an inning or two, but they kept battling and I had to go more than I expected.
In the ninth inning, California finally got to Burch. After a walk and a hit batter, Ascher laid down a bunt that produced a questionable safe call at first base. Bret Collins then lined a sharp shot to center to score the go-ahead run. Two singles and a sacrifice fly later, California led 6-2. An rbi-hit by Grant Troyer plated the Hawks final run, for the 6-3 outcome.
Ive been using the word blur to describe our experience so far, said Manhattan Beach coach Carlos Rojas. Thats what this has been for us. We felt that we really needed to win this game to keep our momentum, even though we knew we were in the Final 4. Our hats are off to this Holmes County team. I think they knew they had an uphill battle, but give them credit; they played well. They played hard. They have proven all week long that they are a classy group of young men, and we expected them to come out here fighting today. That kind of class says a lot about a team, and I admire the way they approached this game.
We knew they were tough coming in, said Yoder of California. You dont beat an Aruba team like they did (Aruba beat Holmes County 17-1) and not be a very good, fundamentally sound ball team. They are absolutely deserving of being where they are. We could have beaten a lot of teams with this effort today. The kids played a great ball game. They just didnt make any mistakes.
Yoder said that the experience at the World Series was one which the kids, coaches and fans would not soon forget, and was proud of the way the Hawks battled all week long as to a fifth-place finish in the World.
This has been an unbelievable experience for all of us, said Yoder. I think our kids came away from this learning a lot about themselves, about how to compete against good competition and about a lot more than just baseball. It was an experience that doesnt come along too often, and we were blessed to be here.
