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Greater Loudoun living on the edge
The Greater Loudoun Lions have done their best to provide the home fans with exciting finishes through their first three games of the Babe Ruth 13U World Series at Fireman's Field in Purcellville.The final margin of victory in each of the Lions' first three games has been a single run. Even more refreshing for the host team is that two of these three games have sided in their favor.
Greater Loudoun sat at 2-1 heading into its final pool play game – scheduled for the evening of Aug. 21. That game finished too late to be included in this edition.
The Lions scored the winning run in each of their first two games in their final at-bat. Greater Loudoun scored in the bottom of the eighth inning Aug. 17 against Bryant, Ark., to win its World Series opener, 4-3.
The host team followed that thrilling win up with another one Saturday. The Lions struck for four runs in the top of the seventh inning to overcome a three-run deficit and win, 8-7 against West Fargo, N.D.
"Just like [Friday] night, we came back when we had to come back and got some big hits," Greater Loudoun manager Mike Lockhart said after Saturday's win.
The Lions missed out on a chance to make it three straight wins and clinch first place in the National Division when they lost, 3-2 to Hopewell Valley, N.J., on Tuesday morning.
The game started on Monday night but was suspended in the top of the fourth inning, tied at 2-2, due to rain and lightning.
Greater Loudoun's bats never seemed to wake up for the 8:50 a.m. start to the resumed game. Hopewell Valley scored the only run over the final four innings in the top of the fifth to earn its first win of the World Series, 3-2.
“We didn't seem to come out ready to play last night. [Tuesday] we didn't come and get anything going offensively,” Lockhart said. “We pitched well enough. We came out this morning and gave up only the one run and I think two hits. But we just seem to be a little flat this morning and last night.”
Despite the loss, the Lions still controlled their own destiny heading into the final pool play game.
“If you had told me we'd be 2-1 going into our fourth game, I would have taken that,” Lockhart said.
Game highlights
Game 1: Greater Loudoun 4, Bryant, Ark. 3 (8 inn.)
JJ Sarty singled home Ryan Rentfro with the game-winning run in extra innings. Marco Verdi smacked a two-run triple and came around to score to spark a three-run first inning. Matthew MacMahon earned the pitching win after tossing two scoreless innings to close out the game. Billy Arens started the game and allowed three runs over six innings.
Game 2: Greater Loudoun 8, West Fargo, N.D. 7
JJ Sarty crossed home plate after a wild pitch for the winning run. Matthew MacMahon and Mitchell Bowers combined to reach base seven times and scored four runs. Tyler Saleck was the winning pitcher in relief. Matthew Reed struck out the side in the seventh for the save.
Game 3: Hopewell Valley, N.J. 3, Greater Loudoun 2
Lack of offensive punch spoils a strong combined pitching effort from Matthew Reed and Billy Arens. Tyler Mocabee singled, walked twice and scored a run. Arens scored the other run.
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