Extra inning excitement as Pirates 8U team takes 2 of 3 in a one-and-done playoff show
August 9, 2023 at 10:04 p.m.
It was the stuff young baseball dreams are made of, the kind of team game that shows how far they have come in their first 8U playoff game of the Greater Hudson Valley Baseball League post-season.
Especially since the local Pirates team won a playoff game that was so well played that it was too bad either team had to lose.
But, of course, somebody did have to lose. And this time around the loser was the Mount Vernon Mets who went down 4-2 in overtime in the rarest of rare 8U games—an extra innings survival of the fittest that was decided by what they call Major League Baseball-style "California Rules" where the inning starts with a runner on second base for both teams.
What happened next was the story of the game with a plot line that included a sensational game-saving play and clutch relief pitching by a Port Chester six-year-old closer who struck out two batters with the tying run on base in extra innings.
The way it was
Logan McLaughlin smashed an RBI base hit that scored Jayden Bautista in the first inning and the Pirates were off and running.
Bautista started off strong on the mound, striking out four batters and allowing one run in an inning and a third.
But that was all either team scored.
So it was 1-1 with Pirates relievers keeping the game tied with John Umbro striking out seven batters in two-and-a-third innings and McLaughlin coming through with nine strikeouts in three-and-a-third innings.
Extra excitement
That sent the game into extra innings. And the MLB-style "California Rule" went into effect.
McLaughlin started the top of the eighth inning on second base. Adrian Fernandez jumped on the second pitch and launched a moon shot double to left center field to score McLaughlin. But that was only the beginning. Max Harris worked a walk. Fernandez stole third base. Anthony Rende then ripped a shot up the middle. The pitcher made a nice grab, wheeled and dealed and threw out Harris at second base while Fernandez scored.
Walk on wild side
With the Pirates up 3-1, the game took a walk on the wild side. Sebastian Martinez was hit by a pitch. Mateo Furcayg walked loading the bases. And then Vincent Nunziato showed great plate discipline by working a walk that brought in a run.
So the Pirates went into the bottom of the last inning leading 4-1. But Mount Vernon wasn't done.
They too started with a runner on second. The next batter walked. And they executed a double steal that left runners on second and third.
Furcayg came on in relief. And the first batter he faced smoked a ball between first and second base. McLaughlin, the second baseman, made a diving stop and threw from his knees to Bautista to get the runner at first base as a runner scored. But that was all MV got because Furcayg, 6, reached back for that something extra and struck out the next two batters to nail down the win.
'Unbelievable' game
"It was an unbelievable ball game and an unbelievable win," Rob Brenzel, one of the Pirates coaches, said after the game on Friday, July 28.
The young Pirates went on to beat New Canaan 10-0 Sunday (7/30) in the second round of the Greater Hudson Valley Baseball League (GHVBL) playoffs, one of their best offensive displays of the season.
It would be nice if the story ended there.
But it didn't.
Lightning strikes
The local Pirates lost to the BPR Lightning 12-5 last Thursday (8/3) at the Park Ridge Elementary School in the third round of the playoffs.
It is one and done in the playoffs. And the Pirates didn't quite get it done.
So the season didn't have the storybook ending they wanted. But they did make it into the semi-finals of the GHVBL playoffs. And they will always have the memory of that Mount Vernon extra innings win. And the satisfaction of knowing how far they have come as players and as a team that became the pride of the Port Chester Youth Baseball League.
Comments:
You must login to comment.