Burns And Burns Defeats Delta Contractors In First Round Of Little League Playoffs (06/10/14)

(By Burns and Burns Manager, Kenn Staub)

In a mild upset fifth seeded Burns & Burns defeated fourth seeded Delta Contractors 6-3 on Monday evening (06/09/2014) in the first round of the Clarion Little League Playoffs. With the victory Burns & Burns advances to the playoff semifinals where they will face first seeded SMI on Wednesday evening (06/11/2014).

Burns & Burns got on the board in the top of the first when Ethan Burford singled to left field driving in Hayden Callen, who had made his way to third after leading off the inning with a double. The away team’s 1-0 lead was short lived, however, as Delta plated two in the bottom of the frame. Chase Kriebel led off the inning with a double to right field and scored on a one out single by Brady Fowkes. Fowkes stole second and third on consecutive pitches, making his way home when Cole Slaugenhoup hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

The top of the second saw Burns & Burns push across one run to knot the game. Reece Geiger singled with one out, moved to second on a dribbler down the first base line, and took third on a Callen single. Lake Staub, batting behind Callen in the order, was awarded first after being hit by a pitch to load the bases. Burford followed Staub by drawing a six pitch walk to force Geiger across the plate, making the score 2-2. Delta had a chance to take the lead in their half of the second, but a fine throw from Burford in center to Burns & Burns catcher Geiger cut down a runner at home as he attempted to score from second on a two out single.

Burns & Burns took the lead in the top of the third. Tyler Schmader led off with a single and moved to third as the next two batters, Shane Carbaugh and Zach Hopkins, walked. Schmader didn’t stay on third long, stealing home on the first pitch to the batter after Hopkins, making the score 3-2. Delta battled back to tie the game in their next at bat. Noah DiTullio led off with a single, stole second and third, and then scored on a Corbin Coulson sacrifice to the right side.

The tie was broken in the fourth, with Burns & Burns plating a run to take the lead for good. Staub led off the inning with a walk, stole second, and scampered home on a one out, Jordan Pezzuti single to right. Callen, pitching in relief for Burns & Burns, held the home team scoreless to preserve the 4-3 lead heading into the fifth.

Burns & Burns added two insurance runs in the top of the fifth. With one out, Geiger and Jordy Hesdon hit consecutive singles to put runners on first and second. A fielder’s choice saw Geiger move to third and Hesdon to second. With runners in scoring position, Staub singled to shallow center field, driving in both runners to give the boy ins orange-and-blue a 6-3 lead. Callen was dominant in the bottom of the fifth for Burns & Burns, striking out three of the four Delta batters he faced. Burns & Burns couldn’t add to the lead in the top of the sixth and looked to Callen to close out the game. After striking out the first Delta batter, the second hitter reached on a walk. With two strikes on the third batter of the inning, Burns & Burns catcher Staub threw to Schmader at first, initiating a pick off play that resulted in the second out of the inning. With bases clear, Callen turned his focus back to the hitter, striking him out on the next to end the game.

In addition to a single, Callen had the only Burns & Burns extra base hit of the game, a double. Burford, Pezzuti, and Geiger each collected two singles, with Staub, Schmader, and Hesdon each connecting for a single apiece. Burford and Staub both had two RBI, while Pezzuti drove in one. Kriebel (single, double) had the only multi-hit game for Delta. DiTullio, Fowkes, and Ryan Alston all had singles. Fowkes, Slaugenhoup, and Coulson were each credited with driving in a run.

Staub started for Burns & Burns, striking out three in an inning and two-thirds. He was relieved by Schmader, who pitched an inning, and Callen, who struck out nine in three and a third innings of work on his way to earning the win. Kriebel started for Delta, fanning one in an inning and two-thirds. Fowkes pitch a third of an inning, Slaugenhoup struck out four in two innings, DiTullio contributed one strike out in one and a third innings, and Coulson finished the game for Delta by striking out one in two-thirds of an inning.

(Thanks to Coach Staub for this article.)