Clifton Park got a much-needed victory Sunday night to keep its hopes of advancing into the next round of the Babe Ruth World Series alive.
The host team scored five runs in the sixth inning to come back from a 4-0 deficit and defeat West End of Williamsport, Pa., 5-4 at Clifton Common.
Jeff Carter entered the game in the fifth inning in relief of starting pitcher Grant Cunningham and recorded the final five outs to pick up the win. Carter, who was rocked by Greenville, N.C., in last Friday’s 12-0 loss, allowed one hit against West End.
Baseball is a game of luck, and it finally came to our side, Carter said. `I had to redeem myself after Friday’s game.`
Clifton Park’s comeback was made possible due to two errors by West End pitcher Joel Worth-ington and left fielder Nick Keener with two outs in the sixth inning. Clifton Park’s Travis Belleard scored the first run when Worthington dropped a popup by Dylan Cramer.
After Josh Lewyckyj walked to load the bases, Cunningham belted a shot to left field that was dropped, which cleared the bases and tied the game at 4. Carter then helped his own cause by singling up the middle to drive in Cunningham from third for the go-ahead run.
`We were in their face every inning, and we had to punch through,` said Clifton Park manager Bruce Cramer. `We got a couple of breaks in the sixth, but we also put pressure on them.`
Clifton Park entered the game with an 0-2 record after losing to Greenville and Waite Park, Minn.
In last Friday’s loss to Greenville, the host team struggled mightily from the outset. Greenville’s ace starter Paul McIntosh held Clifton Park to two hits with an unorthodox delivery and seemingly unhittable offspeed pitches. Cunningham was the only Clifton Park player who had any success against McIntosh, hitting a double and a single.
`Their pitcher threw everything offspeed, and our kids were sitting there waiting for fastballs, which kept us off balance,` Cramer said. `They can hit the fastball lights out, but they never made the adjustment to the offspeed pitches.`
Meanwhile, Carter could not contain Greenville’s offense. Carter’s struggles began in the bottom of the first. After giving up a single to Jason Sugg, he hit Preston Mobley and then walked the next batter to load the bases. Greenville brought those baserunners home with two sacrifice flies and a fielding error for a 3-0 lead.
Greenville then put the game out of reach with nine runs in the bottom third, which chased Carter. Nick Rainville pitched the remaining 2 1/3 innings before the mercy rule took effect.
`The biggest thing that I can attribute to the unraveling and what took place tonight is not being seasoned enough to face these opponents,` Cramer said.
Clifton Park pitchers fared better in Sunday morning’s 3-1 loss to Waite Park, Minn. Lewyckyj pitched into the sixth inning and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out five before being pulled.
Clifton Park’s hitters still had their problems, though. Waite Park pitcher Michael Frericks tossed a three-hitter and only allowed one run on Cunningham’s RBI double in the seventh inning.
Andy Henkemeyer led the Midwest Plains regional champions with a pair of RBIs. Tyson Euerle also drove in a run for Waite Park, which improved its record to 2-0 in pool play.
Clifton Park had one game left in pool play ` a Tuesday contest against Torrance, Calif. The top three teams from each of the two pools advanced to Wednesday’s championship round.“