CHAMPIONSHIP: Brownsville, TX 11, Youngstown, OH 10 F/8

Brownsville, TX owned a four run and three run lead at multiple points of the 2021 DICK’S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series Championship Game, but Youngstown, OH found ways to tie the game both times. Ultimately, it was Brownsville scoring two runs in the top of the eighth and a championship clinching catch by Jorge Garza Jr. in the bottom of the eighth that allowed Brownsville to hoist its first DSGPLWS Championship, defeating Youngstown 11-10. 

Alexis Lopez led the offensive charge for Brownsville, going 4-for-4 with four runs scored and two RBI. Ruben Lopez added three hits in five at-bats, with four RBI and three runs scored.

In the top of the first, Youngstown’s first baseman, Hunter Garvin, made a heads up play to throw out Alexis Lopez, who led off the game with a single, at home plate, after Nehemiah Garcia beat out a 6-4-3 double play, to complete an inning ending 6-4-3-2 double play.

Carter Wilson singled up the middle to give Youngstown a 1-0 lead in the first inning, after an error and a dropped third strike extended the inning.

Brownsville also took advantage of an error and struck for four runs in the top of the second. 

Miguel Soto tied the game when he came around to score on an errant throw by Youngstown’s pitcher. Then, Alexis Lopez hit a two-out, two-RBI double, and Jorge Garza Jr followed with a single to plate Lopez, giving Brownsville a 4-1 lead.

Wilson narrowed the margin to 4-2 in the bottom of the third with his second RBI single of the night. Jake Rynd made it a one run game later that inning with a two-out single that dropped into right field.

Brownsville added some cushion in the top of the fourth on Ruben Lopez blasted a three run home run over the left field fence, to push their lead to 7-3.

The cushion was short lived, as Youngstown rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fourth to bring it right back to a one run ballgame.

Two walks started the inning off for Youngstown, then a fielder's choice loaded the bases when Jacob Hayes beat out the throw to second. Brownsville came back to turn a double play, but surrendered a run to achieve that.

With two-outs, Wilson drove in his third run of the night, this time with a double, while Quinn Meola and Dom Cubellis followed with singles to bring the score to 7-6. 

Each team got the lead off runner on in the fifth, but were set down on strikes three consecutive 

Two errors on one play pushed two runs across for Brownsville in the top of the sixth, making it 9-6. A wild throw from Youngstown’s third baseman, with runners on first and second, allowed Alexis Lopez to score from second and then another errant throw, this time by the right fielder into the catcher, brought Ruben Lopez across the plate. 

Youngstown erupted for three runs in the bottom half of the sixth and sent the 2021 DSGPLWS Championship to the last inning tied.

Garvin walked, Wilson doubled, and Meola reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with no outs. An error plated the first run in the next at-bat, and Jake Rynd followed with a two-run, game-tying line drive single to center field.

Jeremiah Vela settled in to get the next batter out, and close out the frame by throwing a huge strikeout, with the bases loaded, to keep the game tied.

Owens sat down Brownsville quietly in the top of the seventh.

Garvin walked to start Youngstown’s seventh inning, then beat out a fielder's choice to second base, and Meola singled to load the bases with no outs. Cubellis hit a fly ball to right field that had the opportunity to be a walk-off sacrifice fly, but both the runners on second and third failed to tag up. Brownsville’s right fielder, Rudy Gomez, made the catch and fired to second base to turn a double play on the non-tagging baserunner.

A groundout to second in the next at-bat sent the game to extra innings.

Alexis Lopez led the eighth off with a double down the left field line, then two batters later Ruben Lopez singled home Alexis to give Brownsville the lead. Nehemiah Garcia added, what proved to be a much needed, insurance run on a double off the left field wall in the next at-bat.

Youngstown made a comeback bid in the bottom half, when they got the bases loaded with one out. Garvin brought them within one on a sacrifice fly out. 

Carter Wilson, who ended the night 4-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBI, hit a sinking line drive to centerfield, that could have tied the game, but Jorge Garza Jr dove and ended the game by making a phenomenal, championship winning catch.

Vela closed out the final three innings to earn the win for Brownsville. Meanwhile, Owens threw five innings in relief and struck out 11, receiving the tough loss for Youngstown.

Brownsville finished the week with a 5-1 record. After winning a 10 inning contest to open its World Series against San Jose, CA, Brownsville got sent to the loser’s bracket with a 3-2 loss to Johnstown. It downed Manchester, NH, then rattled off back-to-back wins against Johnstown to advance to the finals. The win in the championship was the first loser’s bracket team to win the PLWS since 2001.

Youngstown’s tremendous run ends with a runner-up finish. The Host Area Runner-Up went 3-1, with two wins over Washington County, PA, and one over Bayamon, Puerto Rico, while falling tonight in the finals to Brownsville.

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GAME 13: Brownsville, TX 6, Johnstown, PA 2

Brownsville, TX stormed past Johnstown, PA, 6-2, for its second win in a matter of hours to advance to their first ever DICK’S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series Championship Game in program history.

Ruben Lopez came right back out after closing out the afternoon game and dealt a complete game, two-hitter to propel Brownsville to victory. He allowed two runs and two walks while striking out six.

Brownsville had a runner in scoring position in each of the first two innings, but could not capitalize. 

Third time was a charm for the Brownsville offense, as they plated two runs in their third at bat. Lopez helped his own cause with a one out single through the left side, scoring Jesus Rios, who singled to lead off the inning.

Christopher Ramos drove in Jorge Garza Jr via a sacrifice fly out later in the frame to put Brownsville up 2-0.

In Johnstown's half of the third inning, Aaron Smearman stepped in, after Chase Williamson doubled to break up Ruben Lopez’s no-hit bid, and laced a game tying double off the bottom of the left center field fence.

Brownsville took the lead right back with a four spot in the top of the fourth.

Jeremiah Vela led the fourth off with a double to right center, and Jesus Rios drove him in later with a sacrifice fly out to take a 3-2 lead. 

Then, with two outs Brownsville rallied for three more insurance runs. Garza Jr doubled home one and Nehemiah Garcia ripped a two RBI single.

In each of the five innings Brownsville’s lead off batter reached on a base hit.

Adam Radkowski started and went 2.1 innings, surrendering two runs on five hits.

Justin Whysong got the loss out of the bullpen for Johnstown after allowing four runs, two earned over 1.1 innings. Connor Jones closed out the final 1.1 innings.

PONY Baseball’s Tournament Director, Lynnie Lynch, made the decision Tuesday morning to shorten all if necessary games to five innings, due to the weather uncertainty.

Brownsville is the first loser’s bracket team to make it to the championship game since 2012, and the first team from Texas to make the finals since Laredo won the DSGPLWS in 2011. 

They will take on Youngstown, OH in the winner-take-all championship game tomorrow night. First pitch is set for Wednesday, August 18 at 7:00 PM/ET, live on AT&T SportsNet.

Johnstown finished their 2021 DSGPLWS appearance with a 2-2 record. Johnstown won its opener against Manchester, NH, and its first matchup against Brownsville, before losing both games today.

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GAME 12: Youngstown, OH 11, Washington County, PA 0 F/5

Youngstown, OH cruised into the 2021 DICK’S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series Division Final with an 11-0 run rule victory over Washington County, PA. 

Youngstown’s bats got off to a hot start with five hits in their first six at bats en route to a four run top of the first inning. They added one in the third, and six more in the fourth to put the run rule into effect.

Hunter Garvin led Youngstown’s offensive and defensive attack. He went 2-for-2 with a double, four RBI, and two runs scored on the offensive side. 

Meanwhile, on the pitcher’s mound, Garvin threw four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five. His pitch count limit came into effect after six walks in four frames.

Dom Cubellis closed out the fifth to secure the victory.

Jacob Hayes and Jake Rynd each were 2-for-3 with an RBI on the night. Hayes and Anthony Triveri had two runs scored apiece.

Quinn Meola drove in a run on a double in the first. Carter Wilson added a sacrifice fly out in the midst of the six run fourth inning.

Washington County aided the Youngstown offense by committing six errors.

J.R. Rieg singled, while Marco Faieta and Brogan Meighen doubled for the lone Washington County hits.

Rieg was the starter for Washington County and got the loss after only recording one out and allowing four runs. 

Khi Bouman surrendered seven runs, three earned, over 3.2 innings of relief, and Massimo Falconi pitched a scoreless fifth inning.

Youngstown advances to their second ever, first since 1955, DSGPLWS Championship Game. First pitch for the winner-take-all Championship Game is set for 7:00 PM/ET on Wednesday, August 18. They await the winner of Brownsville, TX and Johnstown, PA, who are battling out an if necessary game to end Tuesday’s slate of games.

Washington County has been eliminated, after making their deepest run in the DSGPLWS since 2006. They finished the week with two wins, over Bay County, MI and Bayamon, PR, and two losses, both coming to Youngstown.

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GAME 11: Brownsville, TX 2, Johnstown, PA 1

Brownsville, TX outlasted Johnstown, PA, 2-1, behind strong pitching from Javier Garcia and Ruben Lopez, to stay alive and force a rematch later tonight at the 2021 DICK’S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series.

Garcia struck out seven over six innings to get the win for Brownsville. One run came across, but was unearned, on four hits and one walk against the left hander. 

Ruben Lopez entered in the seventh, after a substitution debacle was sorted out by PONY Baseball’s Tournament Decisions Committee. 

A planned pinch hitter for Garcia was announced by Brownsville’s coaching staff to the official scorer in the bottom of the sixth. According to PONY Baseball’s substitution rules, once a pitcher is subbed out of the lineup, he is ineligible to return to the mound. Therefore, due to the official announcement of a substitute by Brownsville’s coaching staff to the official scorer, Garcia was not allowed, by rule, to re-enter and pitch in the seventh.

Nonetheless, Lopez took care of business in the bottom of the seventh to earn the save.

Etziel Gonzalez broke the ice in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double to the right center gap, scoring Nehemiah Garcia, who led the inning off with a single and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Miguel Soto.

Brownsville added their second run in the fifth. Alexis Lopez reached on a one out walk. Jeremiah Vela hit a single to the right center gap in the next at bat, advancing Lopez to third. 

Johnstown was on the verge of escaping the threat after Johnstown’s first baseman snared a line drive to get the second out and the next batter was faced with a 1-2 count. However, the 1-2 pitch was a curveball in the dirt that skipped off the catcher’s leg guard, allowing Lopez to race home for the second run.

Johnstown narrowed the game to 2-1 in the top of the sixth, when Anthony Grippo, who reached on an error to lead off the inning, sprinted in to score on a groundout to first base, just beating the tag of Brownsville’s catcher.

Aaron Bowers gave it a valiant effort on the mound for Johnstown, but got the tough luck loss. Bowers went all six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and five walks, with four strikeouts.

Chase Williamson went 2-for-3 to lead Johnstown.

Brownsville snagged line drives and turned them into inning ending double plays to terminate Johnstown scoring threats in both the first and fourth inning.

Brownsville and Johnstown will face off again on Tuesday, August 17, immediately following the conclusion of the Washington County, PA and Youngstown, OH division final, which begins at 5:30 pm. It will be the first if-necessary game at the DSGPLWS since 2014.

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GAME 10: Washington, PA 8, Puerto Rico 2

Washington County, PA erased a first inning deficit and scored eight unanswered runs to roll past Bayamon, PR, 8-2, Monday night in an elimination game at the 2021 DICK’S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series. The win advances Washington County to their first division final appearance since 2006. 

Brogan Meighen was tremendous on the mound for Washington County. Meighen threw a complete game, allowing just four hits, walked two, and struck out two. Two runs came across for Puerto Rico against Meighen, but both were unearned. 

Joniel Cuadrado doubled home Juliomar Campos, who reached on a fielder's choice after an error extended the inning, to put Puerto Rico ahead in the first inning.

Washington County responded with three runs in both the top of the second and third, and followed that with a two run fourth inning. Meanwhile, the right-hander Meighen dominated the bottom halves for Washington County.

Zeke Watkins led the offensive attack for the Host, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. 

Watkins’ single in the second inning got Washington County on the board, as he drove in Kole Olszewski, who walked and stole second to lead off the frame.

Cameron Dames came through in the clutch, with a two out, two RBI single to extend Washington County’s lead to 6-1 in the third. Dames ended the night with two hits and three RBI.

Puerto Rico started to make a comeback effort in the bottom of the fifth, behind the bat of Cuadrado, who hit his second two out RBI double of the night. Meighen ended the threat by knocking down a line drive up the middle and tossing it to first for the final out, with runners on second and third.

Alejandro Mujica started for Puerto Rico and got the loss. He threw 2.1 innings and surrendered six runs, five earned, on four hits and three walks. 

Joseph Carmona struck out two in his 0.2 innings of relief. Jadiel Otero allowed two runs in his work during the fourth, and Alexander Araya tossed a scoreless fifth for Puerto Rico. 

PONY Baseball’s Tournament Director, Lynnie Lynch, made the decision pregame to shorten all contests taking place on Monday to five innings, due to the weather uncertainty. 

First pitch for the division championship between Washington County and Youngstown, OH is slated for Tuesday, August 17 at 5:30 PM/ET.

Puerto Rico has bowed out of the 2021 DSGPLWS with a 1-2 record, defeating Bay County, MI and falling to Youngtown, OH and Washington County.

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GAME 9: Brownsville TX 8, Manchester, NH 1

Nehemiah Garcia had a big day on the pitcher’s mound and in the batter’s box to help propel Brownsville, TX to an 8-1 win over Manchester, NH, extending their stay at the 2021 DICK’s Sporting Goods PONY League World Series.

Garcia went 2-for-3 at the plate, with three RBI and two runs scored, while pitching six strikeouts over 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.

Jorge Garza Jr. was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day, with two runs scored and a two RBI double in the third inning.

PONY Baseball’s Tournament Director, Lynnie Lynch, made the decision pregame to shorten all contests taking place on Monday to five innings, due to the weather uncertainty. 

The game started at the regularly scheduled 10:00 am time in the midst of steady rainfall, and only saw five at bats take place before being the weather delay. 

In the last at bat before the umpires called the players off the field, Nehemiah Garcia laced an RBI single through the left side. The game was suspended until 5:02 pm.

Miguel Soto had his first at bat delayed for just about six and a half hours. He stepped in and hit a two run single to extend Brownsville’s first inning lead to 3-0.

Manchester scored one in the bottom half of the first, when Ryan Dutton led off with a single, Dillon Gaudet walked, and Noah Durham plated Dutton on a single to left field. 

Jorge Garza Jr was relieved on the mound, after giving up the run-scoring single and another walk, by Nehemiah Garcia. After the switch, Nehemiah and Zavier Garcia combined to allow just one more hit and no runs over the final 4.2 innings of the shortened game.

Ryan Dutton started for Manchester and got tabbed with the loss after allowing six runs, five earned over two innings of work. Maddox Turck finished the final three innings for Manchester, giving up two runs, no earned, and striking out five.

Brownsville will now play Johnstown, PA in a division final game on Tuesday, August 17 at 2:00 PM/ET. They will need to defeat Johnstown twice to advance to the DSGPLWS Championship Game. 

Manchester’s first appearance at the DSGPLWS has come to an end. They finished with a 1-2 record, defeating San Jose, CA, and falling to Johnstown, PA, and Brownsville, TX.

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GAME 8: Youngstown, OH 4, Bayamon, PR 1

Mason Petridis threw a complete game, one hitter and Hunter Garvin hit a two-run home run to lift Youngstown, OH past Bayamon, PR, 4-1, in Sunday’s nightcap at the 2021 DICK’S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series.

Petridis used all of his allotted pitches and was dominant all night long. He struck out nine and allowed just one run on one hit and one walk. He struck out seven straight batters from the second batter he faced through a two out walk in the bottom of the third.

Anthony Triveri and Jacob Hayes led the game off with back-to-back singles. Jackson Cheeks drove in Triveri with a sacrifice fly out to put Youngstown up, 1-0, early.

Cheeks led off the third inning with a walk. In the next at bat, Hunter Garvin belted a 3-1 pitch over the right centerfield wall to give Youngstown a 3-0 lead. Later in the inning, Youngstown added one more run after Dom Cubellis tripled and was driven in via a sacrifice fly by Jake Rynd.

Eliel Ramos broke up Petridis’ no-hit bid with a lead off single in the bottom of the fourth. He advanced to second on a wild pitch, then was moved over on a groundout, and scored Puerto Rico’s lone run of the game on another wild pitch.

Petridis locked right back in after the Ramos hit to not allow another one for the rest of his outing, and only one more baserunner.

Puerto Rico used six pitchers in the game. The PONY pitch count rules were on close watch by their coaches to ensure availability for each of their pitcher’s throughout the rest of the tournament.

Andres Riveras started and went the first 1.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks. Argenis Garay was first in relief and threw one inning, surrendering three runs. Alexander Araya, Joniel Cuadrado, Jadiel Otero, and Jeanmichael Gonzalez combined to throw a scoreless final 4.1 innings.

Youngstown advances to the division finals on Tuesday, August 17 at 5:30 PM/ET. They await the winner of Bayamon and Washington County, PA, who will square off on Monday, August 16 at 7:00 PM/ET in an elimination game.

GAME 7: Washington County, PA 3, Bay County, MI 0

Jonah Williamson pitched six shutout innings, before reaching the 95 pitch limit, to propel Washington County, PA past Bay County, MI, 3-0, in an elimination game at the 2021 DICK’S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series.

Williamson carried a no hitter into the bottom of the fourth and allowed just two hits during his tremendous outing. He struck out eight and walked five in the win. Cameron Dames entered the game, after Williamson reached the pitch limit, and closed out the final 1.1 innings to earn the save.

With one out in the top of the third, Cameron Dames, Massimo Falconi, and Jonah Williamson hit three consecutive singles to score the first run of the game for Washington County. Kole Olszewski drew a bases loaded walk to put Washington County up 2-0. 

Washington County got on the board again in the fourth. An error by Bay County’s centerfielder set up bases loaded with no outs. Preston Giorgis, Bay County’s first relief pitcher, induced a ground ball to the, drawn-in, third baseman who bobbled it and could only take the force out at third base, which allowed a run to score. Jaxon Jenkins was called in from the Bay County bullpen later in the inning and was faced with bases loaded, two outs and a full count, he snapped off a curveball to strike out the batter and keep the damage to a minimum.

Jenkins continued the strong pitching over the final 3.1 innings for Bay County to keep them in striking distance. Nonetheless, the offense was kept at bay by Williamson and Dames.

Bay County did threaten in the bottom of the sixth. After drawing back-to-back walks with two outs, Giorgis grounded to shortstop and an errant throw allowed him to reach first. However, Bay County’s runner heading to second on the play made a wide turn and was thrown out by Washington County’s first baseman, J.R. Rieg, to end the inning. 

Joseph Gibson started for Bay County and got the loss. He threw 50 pitches over 2.1 innings and allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out two.

Washington County stays alive in the 2021 DSGPLWS and will take on the loser of tonight’s winner’s bracket game between Youngstown, OH and Bayamon, PR on Monday, August 16 at 7:00 PM/ET, with a spot in the division finals on the line. Bay County has been eliminated with an 0-2 record.

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GAME 6: Johnstown, PA 3, Brownsville, TX 2

Johnstown, PA took the momentum from a run-saving catch by Colin Dinyar to plate three runs in the bottom half of the fifth and win 3-2 over Brownsville, TX, Sunday afternoon at the 2021 DICK’s Sporting Goods PONY League World Series.

Jorge Garza Jr. scored the first run of the game for Brownsville in the top of the first, when he stole home on a pick-off attempt to first base by Johnstown.

Starting pitcher’s Chase Williamson, of Johnstown, and Jai Arenas, of Brownsville, kept the offenses quiet through the first four innings.

In the top of the fifth, Garza Jr. hit a two-out double and was driven in by Ruben Lopez, who singled in the next at bat to give Brownsville a two run lead. Brownsville was destined for more runs that inning, but that’s when Dinyar, Johnstown’s right fielder, leaped into the right field fence and made an inning ending, web gem, catch.

Johnstown rallied after Dinyar’s catch for three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead.

After cruising through the first four innings, Arenas gave up back-to-back walks and a Williamson single to lead off the inning. At that point, Brownsville opted to bring in Jeremiah Vela out of the bullpen. Aaron Smearman stepped in and roped Vela’s first pitch to the left-center gap to plate Anthony Grippo and Dinyar, tying the game 2-2. An RBI groundout scored the go ahead run for Johnstown later in the frame.

Brownsville got a runner to second in the final inning with one out, but a flyout and groundout ended the game.

Williamson threw five strong innings to get credited with the win. He allowed two runs on four hits and seven free passes, while striking out four. Adam Radkowski relieved him and threw two innings of no-hit baseball, with solid defense behind him, to preserve the one run lead and earn the save.

Arenas got the loss on the mound for Brownsville. He ended the afternoon with three runs allowed, two earned, over four innings. Vela tossed the final two innings and did not allow a run of his own, but did give up a hit that scored both of his inherited runners from Arenas.

Johnstown advances to the division finals on Tuesday, August 17 at 2:00 PM/ET. Brownsville drops down to the losers' bracket to take on Manchester, NH on Monday, August 15 at 5:00 PM/ET. The winner of the morning matchup will be Johnstown’s opponent in the division finals and must win twice to advance to the Championship game.

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GAME 5: Manchester, NH 9, San Jose, CA 2

Manchester, NH stayed alive in the 2021 DICK’S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series with a 9-2 victory over San Jose, CA to open Day Three of the event.

Jaiden Bosquet and Dillon Gaudet combined to shut down the San Jose offense from the mound. Bosquet started and pitched the entirety of the 95 pitch limit over 5.2 innings. He allowed two runs on four hits, and struck out eight while walking four to earn the win. Gaudet worked the final 1.1 innings and allowed just one base runner. 

A pitcher’s balk with the bases loaded in the top of the second got Manchester on the board first.

That one run lead remained until the fourth inning. Manchester got some cushion in the top of the fourth with a six run inning. Adam Lafond bunted in Logan Whitney for the first run. A fielder's choice got the second run across. Then, Noah Durham, Maddox Turck, and Henry DuBois rattled off three consecutive RBI hits to get Manchester up 6-0.

San Jose was able to plate two in the bottom half of the sixth, but could not get any closer. David Colon raced home on a wild pitch for the first run and Tristan Ho sacrificed home Zack Koontz for the second.

Manchester added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Gaudet singled home Manchester’s eighth run and Durham doubled in the ninth for his third RBI of the day.

Colon and Ethan Williams split the pitching duties. Colon went the first 3.2 innings and got tabbed with the loss after surrendering seven runs.

The win was the first ever at the PONY League World Series for a team from New Hampshire.

Manchester advances to play on Monday, August 16 (against the loser of Brownsville, TX and Johnstown, PA) at 5:00 PM/ET. San Jose has been eliminated with an 0-2 record at the 2021 DSGPLWS. 

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GAME 4: Youngstown, OH 10, Washington County, PA 2

A nine run fourth inning sent Youngstown, OH past Washington County, PA in Saturday’s nightcap at the 2021 DICK’S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series, 10-2. 

Washington County got out in front early with two unearned runs in the top of the first. Jonah Williamson reached on an infield single and came around to score on a dropped fly ball by Youngstown’s right fielder with two outs. Lucas Burt scored on a pitcher’s balk during the next at bat.

Both teams worked out of jams unscathed in the third. In the top half, Seth Walker worked out of a no out, bases loaded jam in the top of the third. He knocked down a line drive back at him and got the force out at home, then followed with a strikeout and pop out to shortstop. Washington County’s Cameron Dames snagged a line drive with runners on first and second to get them out of the bottom half.

Youngstown broke it open in the fourth inning. They sent 13 batters to the plate and scored nine times on six hits, three free passes, and one Washington County error. Hunter Garvin started the inning with a double and came around to score the first run on a fielder’s choice. Maddox Yost walked with the bases loaded to plate the second run. Later in the frame, Anthony Triveri drove in two runs on a single through the left side, Jackson Cheeks added an RBI single, and Garvin hit a sac fly. The inning was capped off by Carter Wilson and Dom Cubellis, who smashed back-to-back run scoring doubles to right-center field.

Youngstown added one more in the sixth on an error by Washington’s left fielder.

Seth Walker started for Youngstown and went 3.1 innings, pitching a no-decision. Two unearned runs came across in the first, but he kept Washington County off the scoreboard for the rest of his time on the mound. Carter Owens was second on the mound and earned the win. Owens threw 2.2 innings, he did not allow a hit and struck out five. Jake Rynd threw the last inning and sat Washington down in order.

Washington County had five players toe the rubber. Kole Olszewski started and went three innings, allowing two runs. Brogan Meighen was stabbed with the loss. Khi Bouman, Cameron Dames, and Derek Falvo all saw time on the mound for the host team.

Both teams return to action tomorrow (Sunday) at Lew Hays PONY Field. Youngstown will face off with Puerto Rico at 8:30 PM/ET. Meanwhile, the host squad and Bay County, MI will play at 5:30 PM/ET in an elimination game.

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GAME 3: Bayamon, PR 3, Bay County, MI 2

Bayamon, Puerto Rico opened its 2021 DICK’S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series with an exciting 3-2 win over Bay County, Michigan Saturday evening at Lew Hays PONY Field in Washington, PA. 

Bay County’s Talan Debo got the scoring started early, when he blasted the first home run of the 2021 DSGPLWS, a solo shot, in the top of the first.

Puerto Rico answered in their first plate appearance, with two runs, to take the 2-1 lead after one inning of play. Joniel Cuadrado drove in Eliel Ramos on a single off the pitcher’s glove for the first run and Argenis Garay plated Sebastian Ramos the next at bat with a sacrifice flyout.

Bay County tied the game 2-2 in the fourth inning. Debo drew a one out walk and advanced to second on a balk by Puerto Rico’s Axiel K. Gonzalez, then Jaxon Jenkins ripped a line drive to left field that brought in Debo.

Puerto Rico took the lead back in the bottom half of the fifth, on a two out line drive single by Juliomar Campos which scored Eliel Ramos, who singled to lead off the inning.

Kingston Dufort, of Bay County, hit a fly ball down the right field line that dropped in for a single, in the top of the sixth, that looked like it would score the tying run, but Jeanmichael Gonzalez, Puerto Rico’s second baseman, had other plans. Gonzalez took the throw in from right field and fired a strike to the catcher who tagged out the potential tying run. Bay County still had runners on second and third with two outs, after the play. Joseph Carmona finished off the inning with a three pitch strikeout, keeping the one run Puerto Rico lead intact after six innings.

Debo and Jenkins split the pitching duties in the top of the seventh for Bay County, and they held Puerto Rico scoreless.

Carmona struck out the first two batters of the bottom of the seventh, before reaching a pitch limit. Eliel Ramos entered and induced a fly out to end the game and earn the save.

Axiel K. Gonzalez started the game for Puerto Rico and went 4.2 innings. He allowed two runs on two hits, and struck out four while walking three. Carmona earned the win after throwing two innings of no run baseball.

Trey Flood, Bay County’s starter, settled in to retire Puerto Rico in order in both the second and third innings to finish his outing. Flood surrendered two runs and five hits, while striking out four and walking one in his three innings of work. Debo was first in relief and got tabbed with the loss, he went 2.2 innings and allowed one run.

Both teams will be back on the diamond tomorrow. Puerto Rico will take on the winner of Washington County, PA and Youngstown, OH on Sunday, August 15 at 8:00 PM/ET. Bay County will have an elimination game against the loser of the Washington County and Youngstown game on Sunday, August 15 at 5:30 PM/ET. 

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GAME 2: Johnstown, PA 10, Manchester, NH 3

Host Area Champion Johnstown, PA opened Game Two of the DICK'S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series with three runs in the top of the first and never looked back, defeating East Zone Champion, Manchester, NH, 10-3.

Johnstown opened the scoring just three batters in, thanks to back-to-back one out doubles by Aaron Smearman and Ben Kormanski.

The third Johnstown double of the inning, struck by Lucas Oleksa, drove in two runs to grow the lead to 3-0.

Johnstown's lead grew to 5-0 thanks to a third inning Justin Whysong RBI single and a fourth inning Kormanski sacrifice fly.

Manchester cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth off a Jaiden Bosquet single to make the game 5-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Manchester cut the deficit to 5-3 when Noah Durham notched a two RBI single to left field.

Johnstown immediately responded in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs in the top of the frame, all with two outs. A two RBI single by Connor James and an RBI single by Colin Dinyar drove in three of the runs, while the other two scored via walks.

Johnstown starter Aaron Smearman threw 3.2 innings, allowing one run, no hits, two walks and six strikeouts in the win. In relief, Aaron Bowers and Whysong combined to throw 3.1 innings, allowing two runs, four hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

Manchester's starter Logan Whitney suffered the loss, allowing five runs (four earned), four hits, four walks and struck out one. Four relievers combined to throw the final four innings and allowed five runs, five hits, four walks and struck out three.

Johnstown moves into the winner's bracket and meets South Zone Champion Brownsville, TX on Sunday, August 15 at 2:30 PM/ET in Game Six. Manchester moves into the loser's bracket and faces West Zone Champion San Jose, CA in an elimination game to open day three of the DSGPLWS, on Sunday, August 15 at 12 PM/ET.

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GAME 1: Brownsville 1, San Jose 0 F/10

Brownsville centerfielder Jai Arenas laid down a two strike bunt in the bottom of the 10th, with the bases loaded and one out, ultimately walking off Game 1 of the DICK'S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series (DSGPLWS) for the South Zone Champions, defeating West Zone Champion San Jose, 1-0 in 10 innings.

In the 10th, Brownsville opened the inning with a leadoff single by Jeremiah Vela, and was followed by Christopher Ramos who crushed a double to put both in scoring position. After an intentional walk, San Jose's Aiden Chen struck out Rudy Gomez before Arenas's walk-off heroics.

The pitchers shined on opening night of the DSGPLWS, as three Brownsville hurlers and two San Jose hurlers allowed just nine hits combined.

Brownsville starter Javier Garcia allowed just two hits and struck out seven in three innings of work. The only jam he saw was in the second inning when San Jose loaded the bases with two outs, but couldn't get a run to pass. 

Javier's twin brother, Zavier, pitched the next four innings and proceeded to strikeout 11 of the 12 batters he faced, not allowing a hit across his frames.

The winning pitcher on the night was Ruben Lopez who allowed three hits, one walk and struck out six across the eighth, ninth and tenth innings.

For San Jose, starter Zack Koontz was exceptional over his 7.1 innings of work, allowing just one hit (a bunt single), a walk and six strikeouts.

Chen took the loss for San Jose, allowing the one run, three hits, two walks and four strikeouts in two innings of work.

Brownsville moves on in the winner's bracket to face the victor of Johnstown, PA and Manchester, NH,  on Sunday, August 15 at 2:30 PM/ET while San Jose moves into the loser's bracket to face the loser of Johnstown and Manchester on Sunday, August 15 at 12:00 PM/ET.

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