Courtesy photo Hollidaysburg coach Jim McGough talks to his team after Thursday’s win.
BRISTOL, Conn. — Hollidaysburg will play for a spot in the Little League World Series today.
State champion Pennsylvania rolled past Northwestern Washington DC, 13-0, in four innings Thursday afternoon in an elimination game televised live on ESPN in the Little League Baseball 12U Mid -Atlantic Regional at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Leadership Training Center.
“The kids were excited,” Hollidaysburg coach Jim McGough said. “We talked to them a lot about adversity, and that just shows the character of this team in how they responded. They got the bats rolling and put on a great performance out there.”
The Hollidaysburg Area Summer Baseball League team will now face Delaware in the one game regional championship at 3pm today for the right to advance to Williamsport. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
Hollidaysburg lost to Delaware on Tuesday night in the second round, 5-4, in a game that was 2-2 going into the final inning.
“I think we have a good idea of what to expect (from Delaware),” McGough said. “We will be prepared and have a good game plan going into the game. If the kids are smiling and having fun, we’ll be fine.”
On Thursday, Hollidaysburg beat Washington DC for the second time in the four-team tournament by scoring seven hits, including two home runs, while allowing just one hit.
Chase Link homered for the second straight game in the bottom of the first inning to put the home team up 1-0. After touching third base, Link made a bullhorn sign with his fingers, threw up some dirt, and ran and jumped to home plate.
According to McGough, the bull power sign was something his players do as a tribute to the physically and intellectually challenged (the Little League Challenger Division) they met during the state championship tournament in Bradford.
“It was a big boost for our kids,” McGough said. “It got the kids excited and helped propel us to victory.”
Link relieved starting pitcher Brody Dull with two runners on and no outs in the top of the second inning and got out of the jam.
Hollidaysburg then added to its lead with a fourth down in the bottom of the second. Link hit a bases-loaded single to score two runs, and Braden Hatch and Caleb Detrick each drove in a run.
Hollidaysburg then broke the game open in the bottom of the third. Jackson Boob came off the bench and drilled a two-run homer and later hit a three-run double in the same inning.
“Jackson was injured in the Delaware game and had been nursing an injury,” McGough said. “But today he was ready to go and turned off the lights. He came off the bench and gave us a huge spark.”
Detrick also had a two-run single in the inning, and Nathan Phillips scored on a bases-loaded walk.
Link retired the team in the top of the fourth, and Hollidaysburg won via the 10-run mercy rule.
McGough said Link, Dull and Aspen Anderson are the only players on the team who won’t be able to pitch in today’s final because they exceeded pitching limits.
“We’re excited about the pitching we have going into the championship game,” McGough said. “They have really embraced our culture that everyone on the team can perform. Our launch will be ready.”
As Hollidaysburg played Thursday, Delaware entry Wilmington Naamans looked on after securing its spot in the finals.
“We love to play baseball,” McGough said. “The more we play, the more excited and confident our boys are. We got to play an extra game and our kids accepted that.”
McGough said in preparation for today’s final, his team will spend time with family, have “a lot of laughs” and probably play a little Tennyball, a form of baseball with a tennis ball.
He said he wants the kids to enjoy the experience, which included Link being interviewed on ESPN after Thursday’s win.
“They understand the circumstances,” McGough said. “We talk a lot about the mental side of the game and how to stay focused when you go out there and compete. Once they’re between the lines, they’re just kids playing a baseball game. It was the same then (in previous tournaments), and it’s the same now.”
WASHINGTON DC (0): Rossi ss 200, Higginbotham cf 201, Trendl lf-3b 200, Young 1b 100, McClees 1b-p 100, Knight 2b 100, Rose rf 000, Daskal-Koss rf 100f, Daniel F p. 000, Saad 3b-p 100, Paul 1b 100, Liddle c 000, Wander c 000. Totals — 13-0-1.
PENNSYLVANIA (13): McGough ss 221, Link 3b-p 232, Hatch c 200, Detrick rf 212, Metzger 1b-lf-1b 110, Rabel lf-2b 120, Dull 1b 000, Boob 3b cfs 2120, Phillip cfs 2120 2b -3b 120, Dively lf 100. Totals — 16-13-7.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Washington DC 000 0XX– 0 1 0
Pennsylvania 148 XXX–13 7 1
LOB–Washington DC 5, Pennsylvania 4. 2B–Boob. 3B – Higginbotham. HR–Link, Boob. RBI–Boob 5, Link 3, Detrick 3, Hatch, Rabel. HBP-Rabel, McGough, Metzger. CS-Higginbotham. WP–Link. LP – Daniel. SO–Link 6, Saad 1. BB–Dull 2, Link 2, Daniel 4, Saad 3. Wild pitch–Saad 2.
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