Little League: Late rally puts East over top

West Chester hitter will sit out next game after third inning ejection.

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Updated 8:16 AM Tuesday, July 7, 2009

By Rick Cassano

Staff Writer

OXFORD — East Hamilton found a way to win in the first round of the District 9 Little League Tournament, powered by a dramatic rally in the top of the sixth inning.

Mitchell Raley’s two-run single was the big blow as East Hamilton scored four times in its last at-bat to beat West Chester 5-3 at Oxford Community Park on Monday night, July 6.

“We’re a hitting ballclub, that’s what we do,” East Hamilton coach John Gleason said. “We just fought and kept our heads up until we started hitting in the sixth. The kids never gave up.”

A leadoff double from Kyler McRoberts ignited the decisive rally. Austin Young drew a one-out walk, and Nick Gunnell delivered an RBI single up the middle to make it 3-2.

After Taylor Reynolds walked to load the bases, Raley ripped the first pitch he saw from reliever Alec Huelsman into right field. Reynolds was thrown out at the plate, but Raley scampered home as the play continued.

McRoberts pitched the last 2.1 innings to earn the win for East Hamilton. Dallas Robinson, Gunnell and Zach Gray all threw 20 pitches before leaving the mound, making them eligible to throw in the team’s next game.

“If we start out 20-20-20, hopefully they can get us through three or four innings and win a ballgame for us,” Gleason said.

David Begley had two hits for East Hamilton, which advances to meet Miami on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. West Chester will begin losers’ bracket play Wednesday at 6 p.m. against either Anderson or Middletown.

“It’s a real tough loss,” West Chester coach Buddy Smith said. “A great ballgame, very exciting, but a very tough loss for us.”

Smith wasn’t pleased with the umpiring. Specifically, he felt there was some taunting of his players by East Hamilton that wasn’t stopped. He also thought his shortstop, Matthew Stewart, was unfairly ejected in the third inning after reacting to a called third strike.

Stewart is a standout hitter and pitcher for West Chester. He must sit out the next game.

“I’m a little disappointed with how the umpires handled the game,” Smith said. “I believe there was some poor judgment shown.”

West Chester’s three runs were unearned. Andres Dearco had an RBI.

In other tournament play Monday, Miami defeated Anderson 9-6, led by the hitting of Nathan Farthing (two doubles), Mason Fox (three-run homer) and Conner Scott (double, single). Jacob Beck was the winning pitcher.

In addition, Loveland beat Warren County 13-9.

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