Edinboro —
When a championship is on the line, what most folks want is one of those classic, back-and-forth, white-knuckle battles.
The McLane and Vernon Little League all-stars certainly delivered on that account.
Facing off in the District 1 final on Monday at the Edinboro Little League Complex, McLane outlasted Vernon for the title, rallying in its last at-bat for a wild 14-13 win.
“Exciting,” said McLane head coach Jim Mountain. “That’s what you want to see. Lots of drama. I’m really proud of these guys. They never quit. They never quit.”
McLane now moves on the Section 1 tournament, which starts Saturday in Union City. McLane will open the tournament against District 3 champion Harborcreek at 2 p.m.
Vernon, meanwhile, ends an outstanding run through the Little League bracket.
“Great game,” said Vernon head coach Mark McElhinny. “That’s the way a championship should be. Lot of offense. Lots of heroics. Big homers.
“I’m just really proud of how our kids played this whole tournament.”
Vernon very nearly escaped with the win. McLane was down to its last out in the sixth inning when an infield error by Vernon kept things going. Then Shane Johnson and Simon Zehr rapped back-to-back RBI singles to edge McLane back in front. And Vernon couldn’t answer on offense in the bottom of the sixth.
“We had the game in hand,” said McElhinny. “We just didn’t make a couple plays. Against a good team you’ve got to get those outs.”
A similar incident cost Vernon in the fourth inning. Vernon was ahead 8-7 at the time, taking the lead on Nick Rinella’s two-out grand slam homer to right field in the bottom of the third.
However, in the fourth McLane snatched the lead back. The ’Boro squad had the bases loaded but was down to its last out. Vernon relief pitcher Ty Barzak got McLane’s Nick Renick to swing at strike three. But the ball got away from Vernon’s catcher, which allowed a run to score and Renick to reach base safely. Then Justin Bastow followed that up with a two-run single to left, putting McLane ahead 10-8.
Yet, Vernon retook the lead in the fifth inning. Ryan Pero hit a two-out RBI double to score Barzak. And Wyatt Smith followed that up with a three-run clout to right field to give Vernon a 13-12 lead.
McLane, however, would come through yet again in the sixth.
The Edinboro boys had 16 base hits in the game. Matthew Mountain was 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and three RBIs. Bradley Motter was 2-for-4 and scored four runs. Johnson and Zehr both ended the game going 2-for-5 at the plate. Derrick Ray added an RBI double in McLane’s five-run second inning.
Motter earned the win on the mound, pitching three innings in relief while allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits, four walks and two strikeouts. Daniel Teed earned the save, netting three outs in the sixth with one strikeout.
For Vernon, Rinella was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four ribbies thanks to his base-clearing dinger. Smith was 2-for-4, scored twice and drove in five runs. Pero was 2-for-4 with a double, had two RBIs and scored three times.
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McLane outslugs Vernon for title
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