Bases loaded, one out, bottom of the fifth. Sam Decarlo’s fly ball to right field is shagged and tagging from third is Ryan Skjonsby. Skjonsby crosses the plate, gestures the safe sign and Decarlo is mobbed down the first base line by his teammates as West Zone Champion Long Beach, CA escaped an if necessary game scare and secured its sport in the 2018 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pony League World Series Championship Game with a 6-5 win over South Zone Champion Brownsville, TX.
Despite leading 1-0 after one inning, a scrappy Brownsville, TX team that showed heart and determination all tournament countered with three runs in the top of the second to take a 3-1.
Long Beach had just one hit and the one run through the first two innings until Ryan Geck belted a two-run home run, his second of the tournament, to cut the lead to 4-3. A few batters later, Ryan Burack lined a two RBI single to give Long Beach back its one run lead, 5-4.
As it had all tournament, Brownsville responded yet again, tying it 5-5 in the top of the fourth on Luis Balderas’ single.
It remained even keel until the fireworks of the final at-bat that led to Long Beach’s victory.
Ryan Burack was awarded the win allowing just two hits and struck out one over 1.2 innings. Started Jack Dhein started and allowed four runs (two earned), five hits, three walks and five strikeouts.
Damien Cortez started for Brownsville and got a no decision allowing four runs (three earned), two hits, two walks and struck out four. In relief Christopher Sauceda took the loss allowing two runs (one earned), three hits, four walks and struck out two
Long Beach moves on into the championship game tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. ET-USA against Asia-Pacific Zone Champion Chinese Taipei.
Brownsville ends its 2018 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pony League World Series trip with a 3-2 record, defeating Host Washington County, PA 12-3, East Zone Champions Bronx, NY 11-9, and Mexico Zone Champions Tijuana, MX 4-0. Its loses came against Tijuana 3-1 in its opener and tonight’s loss to Long Beach.