Nederland hands Youngstown its first loss
 

Nederland, Texas, catcher Daniel Sparrow congrats Hunter Knox on scoring during Wednesday's game against Youngstown, Ohio, at the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series at Adams Field in Quincy. Gary Higgins photo/The Patriot Ledger
 

By GUS SHLIMBAUM
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY – It is doubtful many  spectators at Adams Field paid  much attention to the meaningless run-scoring sacrifice fly hit by Youngstown, Ohio’s Tony Mehle in the top of the seventh inning of his team’s 10-5 loss to Nederland, Texas, Wednesday afternoon.

Well, they probably should have, because that measly run complicated the scenario to determine which teams in the National Division would advance of the single-elimination portion of the 14-year-old Babe Ruth World Series. 

Since the Texas team handed the Ohio Valley champions its first loss of the tournament, Nederland,  Youngstown and Norwalk, Conn., all finished with identical 3-1 records in pool play.

The first tiebreaker, head-to-head, did not come into play initially because each team had a 1-1 record in its games against the other two.

That’s when G.J. Senchak’s run matters.

His run forced a tie between Nederland and Norwalk for runs allowed – the second tiebreaker – and so it went back to the head-to-head tiebreaker, which Connecticut owned over Texas based on Tuesday’s 2-1, nine-inning victory.  Therefore, Norwalk received the top seed in the National pool, and a Thursday bye. 

Nederland will face the No. 3 seed from the American Division at 8 tonight.

But don’t think the Southwest Regional champions are upset about not having a day off.

“There are different types of teams out there,” Nederland manager Steven Pitts said. “There are teams that enjoy a day off, and there are others that the day off can hurt them.  I think our team will benefit from continuing to play every day, and the boys love the game, so I think it will help us.”

As for the game itself, Nederland, trailing 3-1, took advantage of four errors in the bottom of the third inning by Youngstown. Coupled with timely hitting, Nederland scored eight runs in the frame.

Hunter Knox hit a two-run single, David Conley hit an RBI double, and Stephen Schlett added an RBI single in the inning.  The other runs scored on passed balls, ground outs and errors.

The Youngstown offense was led by Ricky Jones, who hit an RBI double in the top of the third, and G.J. Senchak, who hit two RBI singles in the game.

David Conley pitched 4 of solid relief for Nederland, allowing only one earned run, to get the win.

Pitts said he was happy with the way his team bounced back from an extra-inning loss to Norwalk the previous day and beat a previously unbeaten Ohio team.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the boys,” Pitts said. “The character of a team is what you do after a loss.

“They bounced back and did what it took, were aggressive on the bases and put the ball in play.  Their errors helped us, but in the end it is our play that won it all, and we did a great job pitching as well.”
  
Gus Shlimbaum may be reached at gshlimbaum@ledger.com.

Youngstown, Ohio, third baseman Ricky Jones makes a tough throw on Wednesday against Nederland, Texas, at the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series at Adams Field in Quincy. Gary Higgins photo/The Patriot Ledger