Sports

Little League Baseball

By Dave Konopki dkonopki@timesleader.com
Assistant Sports Editor

DALLAS TWP. — Following a three-hour game that featured 23 runs, more than 50 baserunners, a number of twists and turns and more conferences than a Middle East peace summit, members of the Back Mountain American all-star team were finally able to celebrate a championship.

And this time, it counted.

Almost 45 minutes after American had celebrated what it thought was the winning run, Greg Petorak scored on an infield single by Kyle Razawich with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift Back Mountain to a 12-11 win against Kingston in a wild District 31 major baseball championship game at W.W. Kubis Memorial Field.

“It was a great Little League baseball game,” said American manager Greg Petorak Sr. “I’m glad to say I was part of it.”

The dramatic ending was befitting a game that saw Kingston claw its way back twice from three-run deficits and American win the game despite being down twice to its final strike.

The ending had a bit of irony, however. In a game that featured two powerful teams with more than 10 combined players with the ability to hit the ball over the fence, the deciding run was scored on a ball hit less than two feet in front of home plate.

The younger Petorak drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the eighth. Craig Skudalski followed with a single and Billy Gately was intentionally walked to load the bases. Kingston went to relief pitcher Mike Baur, who struck out Matt Doggett. Razawich – who reached base safely all six times on either singles or walks – hit a little dribbler in front of the plate. By the time Baur got to the ball, Petorak had crossed the plate with the winning run.

“How about that?” asked Kingston manager Dennis Lavan. “Back Mountain is a team with a lot of power and we get beat on a ball that’s hit a few inches in front of the plate. That’s baseball.”

In the sixth inning, it didn’t appear as though American would need extra innings to advance to Monday’s sectional playoffs.

Baur hit a home run in the top of the inning and Kingston used a little creative baserunning to score another run to take a 10-7 lead. But American battled back.

With one out, Razawich was called safe at first base after hitting a ground ball to the second baseman. Kris Roccograndi walked and Dominic Oliveri was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Kingston got within one out of a championship when Rick Stayer was erased on an infield fly rule. Chad Debona drew a full-count walk to score Razawich, and Petorak followed with a two-strike single to drive in Roccograndi and pinch-runner Gately to tie the game at 10-10.

After a wild pitch moved Debona to third and Petorak to second, Skudalski was intentionally walked to load the bases. Jon Strasser followed with a clean line drive up the middle, setting off a wild celebration by American players and coaches.

The only problem? Skudalski never touched second base.

As Back Mountain celebrated its apparent title, the umpires got together – one of at least a half-dozen times they needed to confer to discuss a game situation – and Skudalski was called out.

“To be honest, I was a little down after that,” said Petorak Sr. “I thought it might have opened a door for Kingston to win. It’s hard to beat that team once, let alone beating them twice in the same night. But I was proud of the way our kids responded.”

In addition to Razawich’s big night at the plate, Skudalski finished with four hits, including a double. Despite not being in the starting lineup, Peter Kuritz played a key role in the win. He recorded an RBI single in the third inning and tied the game at 11-11 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Matt Labashasky had a huge offensive night for Kingston. He finished with four hits, including an RBI single in the fourth inning and a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Chris McCue added three singles and also reached base on a walk. Pat Lavan reached base three times and delivered a key two-run single in the fifth.

“We were down by three runs early to a quality team, but we kept coming back,” said Dennis Lavan. “I think it shows the character of this team. We lost, but I’m proud of the way our kids played.”