WEST DEPTFORD, NJ -- A classic.
How else can you discribe a game that is still tied 1-1 after 10
innings? Ten innings that were played in two hours, 12 minutes.
It looked like it would wind up with a story book ending with the
background of Cinderella.
Then Elkton, MD, tied it in the 11th... and it got more unbelievable.
But when West Deptford got the lead back in the 12th, it looked to be
for good. A single to left by winning pitcher Ben Kresge was bobbled and
allowed Chris Mattson to score and give West Deptford, NJ, a 3-2 lead.
Not so fast said Mike Steimer. Steimer chopped a single over the first
baseman’s head and into right field to drive home two runs and give
Elkton, MD a dramatic 4-3 win to earn the right to face South Vineland,
NJ, the New Jersey state champions, Thursday at 5 p.m. at Union Field.
Should Elkton win that game, a second game will be played immediately
after. The survivor of Thursday’s championship round will earn a spot in
the Senior Little League World Series in Bangor, ME beginning Sunday.
Elkton got the first two runners on base in the bottom of the 12th with
consecutive singles by Ryan Potts and winning pitcher Lonnie Dotson.
Ryan Fischer then bunted the runners into scoring position for Steimer’s
heroic chopper.
Jon Leise, who won a game earlier in the regional with a walk-off home
run in the bottom of the seventh, hit an 0-1 pitch over the center field
fence off of reliever Ryan Fischer to lead off the top of the 11th to
give West Deptford, NJ a 2-1 lead.
Elkton responded with a two-out rally in the bottom of the 11th. Matt
Murphy went head first in beating out an infield single off of the
pitcher’s glove. Randy Boyer followed with an opposite field double into
the right field corner, that scored Murphy all the way from first and
tied the game at 2-2.
The 12-inning affair was the longest in 12 years of regional play at
West Deptford. It was the third extra-inning affair of the 2000 Regional
and just the 10th in the 12 years of regional play at West Deptford. It
is the first time three games in the same regional have needed extra
frames.
It was also the second extra-inning game for West Deptford in the
regional, losing to South Vineland, NJ, 13-9, in nine innings, and West
Deptford’s second game of the day. The host District NJ15 champs had
beaten Newark National, DE, 5-2, earlier in the night.
Elkton’s Potts and West Deptford’s Leise locked horns in a pitcher’s
duel, both pitching the Little League maximum of 10 innings. Potts,
making his first appearance in the International Tournament, allowed
five hits and one run. He walked just two and struck out seven, throwing
just 119 pitches in the 10 innings. Leise threw just 91 pitches in the
first nine innings, which only took one hour, 58 minutes to play.
In the top of the 10th, West Deptford’s Chris Mattson worked a lead-off
walk and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Mattson then moved to
third base on a ground out to second by Scirrotto. However, Potts, in
his final batter of the night, got Jake Brownell to pop-up to second to
end the inning.
West Deptford, playing without the leading hitter of the regional Chris
Tallarida after he was ejected from the earlier game and had to serve a
mandatory one game suspension, got on the board in the second inning.
Joe Branosky led off with a single and stole second. Matt Sanders
followed with a single to third that moved Branosky to third. Branosky
then broke for home on a grounder to third, barely beating the tag for a
1-0 lead.
Elkton dodged a bullet in the third, but lost two of its best players in
the process. With two outs and runners on first and second, Johnny
Montague lifted a fly ball to shallow left field. Shortstop Scott
Reynolds and left fielder Tim Smith, both running full speed, collided.
Smith came up with the ball, albeit a delayed call as third base umpire
Pete Lloyd sorted out the players to see the catch. Both players came
out of the game groggy shortly after the next inning began. Reynolds was
taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Smith returned to pinch-hit in
the sixth inning and popped out to second. Reynolds status for tomorrow
was not known.
While Potts was in the middle of retiring 12 straight batters from the
fourth to the eighth, Elkton tied the game in that sixth inning.
Mackenzie Welch led off with a single. After Smith’s pop-out, Matt
Murphy reached on an error. Boyer followed with a single into the right
field corner, chasing Welch home and pinch-runner Pat Quirk to third.
Leise, however, coaxed Matt Wlech and Johnny Montague into pop-ups to
end the threat.
2002 SENIOR LITTLE LEAGUE EASTERN REGIONAL SCHEDULE / RESULTS
Friday, August 2
G 4 - Floral Park, NY 6, Derry, NH 1
G 2 - West Deptford, NJ15 6, Elmwood (Providence), RI, 4
G 1 - South Vineland, NJ 6, Swampscott, MA, 0
NOTE: G3 eliminated due to Vermont withdrawl
Saturday, August 3
G 7 - South Portland National, ME 5, West Side (West Chester), PA 3
G 8 - Elkton, MD 11, Floral Park, NY, 1
G 6 - West Deptford, NJ15, 5, Max Sinoway LL (North Haven), CT 3
G 5 - South Vineland, NJ, 7, Newark National, DE 2
Sunday, August 4
G 11 - West Side (West Chester), PA 4, Swampscott, MA 2 (Massachusetts
eliminated)
G 12 - Elmwood (Providence), RI 3, Floral Park, NY, 2 -- 10 innings (New
York eliminated)
G 10 - Max Sinoway LL (North Haven), CT, 6, Derry, NH 0 (New Hampshire
eliminated)
NOTE: G9 eliminated due to Vermont withdrawl
Monday, August 5
G 14 - Elmwood (Providence), RI 5, West Side (West Chester), PA 2
(Pennsylvania eliminated)
G 13 - Newark National, DE 7, Max Sinoway LL (North Haven), CT 2
(Connecticut eliminated)
G 15 - South Vineland, NJ 13, West Deptford, NJ15 9 -- 9 innings
G 16 - Elkton, MD 5, South Portland National, ME 0
Tuesday, August 6
G 17 - West Deptford, NJ15 5, Elmwood (Providence), RI, 2 (Rhode Island
eliminated)
G 18 - Newark National, DE 6, South Portland National, ME 5 (Maine
eliminated)
G 19 - South Vineland, NJ 15, Elkton, MD 1
Wednesday, August 7
G 20 - West Deptford, NJ15 5, Newark National, DE 2 (Delaware
eliminated)
G 21 - Elkton, MD 4, West Deptford, NJ15 3 (NJ15 eliminated)
Thursday, August 8
G 22 - South Vineland, NJ vs. Elkton, MD, 5 pm
G 23 - if necessary
West Deptford, NJ15 vs Elkton, MD (Aug 07, 2002)
* Box score
* Play-by-Play
Box score
2002 Senior LL Eastern Regional
West Deptford, NJ15 vs Elkton, MD
Aug 07, 2002 at West Deptford, NJ (Union Field)
West Deptford, NJ15 3 (8-2,4-2 REGIONAL)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.
------------------------------------------------------------
Scirroto, Anthony ss..... 5 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 0 .250
Brownell, Jake 2b/ph..... 5 0 1 0 0 0 3 1 1 .333
McIntyre, David 2b...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .333
Leise, Jon p/cf.......... 5 1 2 1 1 0 1 2 0 .389
Branosky, Joe 3b......... 5 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 4 .263
Wentz, Matt pr/ss....... 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .333
Simmons, Dan 3b......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
Montague, Johnny c....... 5 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 2 .158
Sanders, Matt lf/1b...... 5 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 .200
Wolfe, Ryan rf/lf........ 5 0 1 1 0 0 4 1 0 .417
Mattson, Chris cf/rf..... 3 1 0 0 2 1 4 0 0 .077
Havers, John 1b/ph....... 3 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 3 .100
Kresge, Ben 1b/ph....... 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 .333
Totals................... 42 3 7 2 4 8 34 8 10
Elkton, MD 4 (10-1,3-1 REGIONAL)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.
------------------------------------------------------------
Welch, Mackenzie cf...... 5 1 1 0 0 1 4 0 1 .286
Smith, Tim lf............ 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 .143
Reynolds, Scott ss....... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .417
Murphy, Matt rf/2b...... 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 .125
Boyer, Randy c........... 5 0 3 2 0 0 7 4 0 .467
Alexander, Larry pr/lf.. 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 .167
Quirk, Pat pr/ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .000
Welch, Matt 2b/ss........ 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 .308
Potts, Ryan p/1b......... 5 1 1 0 0 2 4 0 2 .154
Dotson, Lonnie 3b/p...... 5 1 2 0 0 1 3 2 0 .286
Fischer, Ryan rf/2b...... 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 0 .000
Steimer, Mike 1b/rf...... 5 0 1 2 0 0 7 0 1 .364
Totals................... 43 4 9 4 1 6 36 12 7
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------------
West Deptford, NJ15. 010 000 000 011 - 3 7 3
Elkton, MD.......... 000 001 000 012 - 4 9 2
-----------------------------------------------
Note: 1 out, 1 runner LOB when the game ended.
E - Branosky 2(5); Wentz(1); Smith(1); Reynolds(4). DP - W. Deptford 2. LOB
- W. Deptford 10; Elkton 7. 2B - Boyer(2); Dotson(1). HR - Leise(2). HBP -
Scirroto. SH - Brownell(1); Kresge(1); Fischer(1). SB - Brownell(6);
Branosky(1); Wolfe(1); Mattson(2); Quirk(3). CS - Sanders(1).
West Deptford, NJ15 IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ERA
-----------------------------------------------------
Leise, Jon.......... 10.0 4 1 0 1 5 35 36 0.00
Kresge, Ben......... 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 5 5 1.31
Wolfe, Ryan......... 0.1 3 2 2 0 0 3 4 6.00
Elkton, MD IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ERA
-----------------------------------------------------
Potts, Ryan......... 10.0 5 1 1 2 7 35 38 0.70
Fischer, Ryan....... 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 4 4 0.88
Dotson, Lonnie...... 1.0 1 1 1 2 0 3 7 7.00
Win - Dotson (1-0). Loss - Wolfe (0-1). Save - None.
HB - Dotson. PB - Boyer(2).
Umpires - Home:Graham 1st:Bassler 2nd:Mori 3rd:Lloyd
Start: 8:00 pm Time: 2:49 Attendance: 750
Game: GM-21
Game notes:
7.14 runners: Wentz (2nd), Alexander (2nd), Quirk (4th, 6th)
Play-by-Play
2002 Senior LL Eastern Regional
West Deptford, NJ15 vs Elkton, MD - Play-by-Play
Aug 07, 2002 at West Deptford, NJ (Union Field)
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------------
West Deptford, NJ15. 010 000 000 011 - 3 7 3
Elkton, MD.......... 000 001 000 012 - 4 9 2
-----------------------------------------------
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 1
Scirroto struck out swinging. Brownell popped up to 3b. Leise flied out
to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 1
Welch, Mack. flied out to rf. Smith popped up to 1b. Reynolds out at
first p to 2b to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 2
Branosky singled to left field. Montague flied out to lf. Branosky stole
second. Sanders singled to center field; Branosky advanced to third.
Sanders advanced to second on a passed ball. Wentz pinch ran for
Branosky. Wolfe reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; Sanders advanced to
third; Wentz scored. Wolfe stole second. Mattson struck out looking.
Havers struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0
errors, 2 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 2
Branosky to 3b for Wentz. Boyer singled up the middle. Alexander pinch
ran for Boyer. Welch, Matt lined into double play 1b unassisted;
Alexander out on the play. Potts struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 3
Boyer to c for Alexander. Scirroto flied out to cf to right center.
Brownell singled to left center. Brownell stole second. Leise flied out
to cf to left center. Branosky walked. Montague flied out to lf. 0 runs,
1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 3
McIntyre to 2b for Brownell. Simmons to 3b for Branosky. Dotson popped up
to 2b. Fischer walked. Steimer flied out to ss. Welch, Mack. struck out
swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 4
Alexander to lf for Smith. Sanders reached on a throwing error by ss.
Murphy to rf for Reynolds. Welch, Matt to ss. Fischer to 2b. Wolfe
singled through the right side; Sanders advanced to third. Wolfe advanced
to second on a fielder's choice. Sanders out at third c to 3b, caught
stealing. Mattson flied out to rf. Havers flied out to lf. 0 runs, 1 hit,
1 error, 1 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 4
Branosky to 3b for Simmons. Kresge to 1b for Havers. Alexander reached on
a fielding error by 3b. Murphy lined into double play p to 1b; Alexander
out on the play. Boyer reached on a throwing error by 3b. Quirk pinch ran
for Boyer. Quirk stole second. Welch, Matt grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0
hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 5
Boyer to c for Quirk. Scirroto lined out to 3b. Brownell pinch hit for
McIntyre. Brownell flied out to lf. Leise flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 5
Brownell to 2b. Wentz to ss for Scirroto. Potts grounded out to 1b
unassisted. Dotson doubled to left center. Fischer popped up to 3b.
Steimer lined out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 6
Branosky grounded out to 3b. Montague flied out to ss. Sanders struck out
swinging, out at first c to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 6
Smith to lf for Alexander. Welch, Mack. singled to left field. Smith
popped up to 2b. Murphy reached on a fielding error by ss; Welch, Mack.
advanced to second. Quirk pinch ran for Murphy. Boyer singled down the rf
line, RBI; Quirk advanced to third; Welch, Mack. scored, unearned. Welch,
Matt popped up to 2b. Potts fouled out to c. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2
LOB.
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 7
Murphy to rf for Quirk. Wolfe flied out to lf. Mattson flied out to rf.
Havers pinch hit for Kresge. Havers struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 7
Scirroto to ss for Wentz. Havers to 1b. Dotson flied out to lf. Quirk
pinch hit for Fischer. Quirk struck out swinging. Steimer flied out to
cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 8
Fischer to 2b for Quirk. Scirroto popped up to 2b. Brownell grounded out
to 2b. Leise singled to left field. Branosky struck out swinging. 0 runs,
1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 8
Welch, Mack. grounded out to ss. Smith grounded out to ss. Murphy flied
out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 9
Montague struck out swinging, grounded out to c unassisted, interference.
Sanders grounded out to ss. Wolfe flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 9
Boyer flied out to rf. Welch, Matt flied out to rf. Potts struck out
looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 10
Mattson walked. Kresge pinch hit for Havers. Kresge grounded out to 3b,
SAC, bunt; Mattson advanced to second. Scirroto grounded out to 2b;
Mattson advanced to third. Brownell popped up to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 10
Kresge to 1b. Dotson struck out swinging. Fischer lined out to cf.
Steimer flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 11
Murphy to 2b. Potts to 1b. Fischer to p. Steimer to rf. Leise homered to
center field, RBI. Branosky struck out swinging. Montague grounded out to
2b. Sanders fouled out to c. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 11
Leise to cf. Sanders to 1b. Wolfe to lf. Mattson to rf. Kresge to p.
Welch, Mack. grounded out to ss. Smith struck out looking. Murphy singled
to pitcher. Boyer doubled down the rf line, RBI; Murphy scored. Welch,
Matt lined out to rf. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
West Deptford, NJ15 - inning 12
Murphy to 3b. Dotson to p. Fischer to 2b. Wolfe grounded out to 2b.
Mattson walked. Mattson stole second. Kresge singled to left field;
Mattson advanced to third, scored on an error by lf. Scirroto hit by
pitch; Kresge advanced to second. Brownell grounded out to c, SAC, bunt;
Scirroto advanced to second; Kresge advanced to third. Leise walked.
Branosky grounded out to ss. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 3 LOB.
Elkton, MD - inning 12
Sanders to lf. Wolfe to p. Kresge to 1b. Potts singled to first base.
Dotson singled through the left side; Potts advanced to second. Fischer
out at first p to 2b, SAC, bunt; Dotson advanced to second; Potts
advanced to third. Steimer singled to right field, 2 RBI; Dotson scored;
Potts scored. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
