Andy Close
WARREN, Pa. – It was a heartbreaker for the boys minors all-stars as they dropped a hard-fought 3-2 elimination game to Punxsutawney on Saturday at Betts-Jackson.
Warren did all of its damage in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. Trae Cradduck led off the inning with a single, Evan Wilcox walked and Ackron Hoisington ripped an RBI single to make it 1-0. Reed Fitzgerald followed with an RBI groundout to give Warren a 2-0 advantage.
Punxsutawney responded in the fourth with some small ball to take a 3-2 lead. Punxsy had four hits in the inning, two via bunt, as well as an RBI triple from Henry Janocha and a bases loaded walk to Vincent Miller which brought in what proved to be the game-winning run.
Warren didn’t go down without a fight, however.
In the sixth inning, Hoisington reached with one out on a single and Fitzgerald reached on an error, and the duo both moved up a base on a wild pitch. Hoisington was ruled out, however, after an illegal head-first slide. Max Papalia drew a two-out walk to put two runners on again, but Ethan Smith was brought into the game to pitch and got a groundout to end it.
Fitzgerald went the first four innings on the mound for Warren, striking out seven. Parker Stanton pitched two scoreless innings of relief, striking out a pair.
Hoisington finished with two hits, as did Glade Rulander, who also doubled.
