Daeshon Hardison did a little bit of everything on Friday afternoon in Pittston Township as the State College Little League 11U All Stars team won 5-1 against East Side (West Chester) for its first state title in two decades.
On the mound, Hardison pitched all six innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out seven. At the plate he did just as much, knocking in all five of State College’s runs with two hits in his three at-bats over the course of the game.
Hardison opened up the game in the fourth inning with a three-run home run to give State College a 3-0 lead. East Side responded in the bottom of the inning with its only run of the game. Hardison’s home run in the top of the sixth all but put the game out of reach.
The rest of the State College squad managed four more hits during a solid offensive outing by the team. James Wunz had two hits and Connor Kulka had one, with both scoring a run. Nathan Einfalt also had a hit for State College.
State College managed an equally efficient defensive effort, giving up just one run on five hits. Both teams avoided too many mistakes, with each squad picking up just two errors.
The team was scheduled to arrive back at Montressor Field at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Friday, when they will be welcomed back by community members, and vehicles from Ferguson Township Police Department and the Alpha Fire Company.
