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Lions are comeback kids
Greater Loudoun scored four times in the top of the seventh inning to rally from a three-run deficit for an 8-7 victory over West Fargo, N.D. on day two of the Babe Ruth 13U World Series, Aug. 18 in Purcellville.JJ Sarty, who delivered the game-winning RBI in Friday's 4-3 win, scored on a wild pitch to complete the Lions' four-run surge in the seventh. Matthew Reed struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.
"Just like [Friday] night, we came back when we had to come back and got some big hits. We were fortunate enough to get through that," Greater Loudoun manager Mike Lockhart said. "As I said coming into this, the key would be which team made the least amount of mistakes, made the routine plays, and throws strikes. We didn’t make all the routine plays, but we hit enough and battled back to stay in the ball game. Other than their two big innings, we played well enough to win."
The Lions (2-0) are the lone unbeaten team remaining in the National Division. The top three teams from the National and American divisions will advance to the elimination round, which begins Aug. 22. The top seed in each division will earn a bye into the semifinals.
Greater Loudoun is off Sunday before returning to the diamond for night games on Monday and Tuesday to close out pool play. The Lions have scored the winning run in each of its first two games in their final at-bat.
"This helps us going into an off day, as well as going into Monday with some momentum," Lockhart said. "We showed character to come back. We battled back and persevered."
Mitchell Bowers was named the "Player of the Game" for Greater Loudoun. Bowers started on the mound and pitched into the fifth inning. Bowers surrendered four runs to West Fargo in the second inning, but held them scoreless in each of his other innings. He struck out five batters. Bowers also reached base in three of his four plate appearances, scoring twice and stroking an RBI double in the second.
Matthew MacMahon reached base in all four of his trips to the plate and scored twice. Tyler Saleck relieved Bowers on the mound and worked out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth. Saleck allowed three runs (two earned) in the sixth, but gained the win when the Lions struck for four runs in the seventh.
Greater Loudoun’s pitching staff saved its best for last once again. MacMahon tossed two scoreless innings, including striking out the final four batters he faced in Friday’s win. Reed turned the trick on Saturday, trading in his catcher’s gear for a pitcher’s mitt as he struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to close the door on the 8-7 win.
West Fargo (0-1) scored four runs in the second inning and added three more tallies in the sixth. Chance Bitzer belted a three-run double into the left-center field gap in the second, and pinch-hitter Karson Mapes stroked a two-run triple and later scored in the sixth. West Fargo left the bases loaded in the third, fourth and fifth innings, and stranded 15 base runners overall.
"I'll take the two wins. We are playing well enough to win," Lockhart said. "We’ve had two games in front of our crowd. Now we should be able to get over that. We know what to expect when we come out here. There is going to be a lot of people in these stands cheering for us. I think we are still a little nervous. We are just not making some routine plays. That is something we are going to have to address."
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