STATE COLLEGE — In their first meeting in the 12U District 5 Little League tournament, State College needed a dramatic come-from-behind victory to beat Penns Valley.
In the rematch, State College scored three runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back on their way to a 12-2 win over Penns Valley and a District 5 championship Sunday afternoon at Montresor Field in State College.
In the first inning, after a walk to Braden Summerson, Carter Steinbugl hit a triple to right field to give State College a 1-0 lead. Heads-up baserunning increased the lead to 2-0 after Steinbugl stole home on a delayed steal at second base. Benny Kopinski later drove in Liam Williams to make it 3-0.
State College added to its lead in the top of the third. After two outs, Will Callahan singled, scoring Kopinski. The heads-up baserunning continued as Quentin Neal stole home, and then Callahan also stole home after James Morris extended a rundown between first and second, giving Callahan enough time to cross the plate before Morris was tagged out at second.
State College Manager Jay Neal talked about his team’s baserunning.
“The baseball IQ that these kids have is just fantastic. We put in those more advanced things, and they execute them to perfection. Sometimes they take us by surprise with what they are able to do out there.”
Penns Valley threatened with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Berkley Ingold got Jace Irwin to ground out to first to end the threat.
State College added three more runs in the top of the fifth after drawing three straight walks with the bases loaded, increasing its lead to 9-0. Penns Valley finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth thanks to four straight hits. Maverick Kader lined up a ball to center field that scored Justin Aukerman for Penns Valley’s first run. Roman Dietz then drove in Reed Allen to cut the lead to 9-2.
That was as close as Penns Valley would get. After Ingold scored on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth, Carter Steinbugl blasted a two-run home run over the center-field fence to extend State College’s lead to 12-2. After scoring 32 runs in their last two games, Neal talked about the team’s offensive approach.
“We told them, cut down those swings, put balls in play, and that’s going to take care of what you need to do. They did exactly what they were asked, just like they always do.”
Penns Valley went down with a runner on base at the bottom of the sixth, setting the final score at 12-2 as State College completed the District 5 Tournament undefeated.
“I could not be prouder. To win districts on our home field, in the last game these kids get to play here, I could not be prouder,” Neal said, getting choked up as State College advanced to the Section 4 tournament this week in Hollidaysburg.
