Johnstown holds off Houston’s late rally
Johnstown’s Bryce McCleester throws to first base over Houston’s Keagan Vance during a Pony League World Series game Sunday at Lew Hays Field in Washington.
Johnstown’s Troy Emert tags out Houston’s Langston White during a Pony League World Series game Sunday at Lew Hays Pony Field in Washington.
A baseball game can be won or lost in a matter of minutes – every play and every moment counts.
That’s why Johnstown manager Josh Day walked off the field shaking his head in disbelief after the Boilers scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Despite holding a six-run lead, the offensive surge ended abruptly when two runners were picked off on the same play.
The mistakes seemed remedial at the time, but Houston had the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning after scoring one run in the bottom of the sixth and adding four in the seventh. With the Boilers one loss from elimination, the omen of the double play loomed like a dark cloud over Johnstown’s players.
Luckily for them, Johnstown’s pitching was superb Sunday afternoon in the Pony League World Series. Troy Emert got Houston left fielder Sammy Sobatik to ground out to end the rally, securing a 6-5 victory for Johnstown at Lew Hays Pony Fields.
The Boilers advance to face Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, today at 10 a.m., while Houston is the first South Zone champion to not win a game at the world series since Garland, Texas in 2001.
“That’s why you come to the ball park, to see exciting games like that,” Day said. “Unfortunately, we were on the wrong side of it towards the end, giving up those runs, but our guys stayed behind each other, stayed tough and I’m very proud of how they hung together.”
Johnstown starting pitcher Troy Mulhollen, who reworked his delivery this week, was effectively wild; allowing one run in six innings, while striking out eight, walking five and hitting a batter.
Lowering his leg kick to waist high helped the lefty with movement on his breaking pitches, but the experiment was taxing; causing him to exceed 100 pitches in six innings. As a result, Day turned to Tyler Krause on the mound in the seventh.
After recording the first out, Krause hit two batters and allowed a single to load the bases. He walked in a run and Houston’s Arjun Parikh hit a two-run single to narrow the deficit to 6-4. Emert then came in to try to close out the game and a seven-pitch battle with Daniel Carmona ended with a sacrifice fly to left field to draw Houston to within a run.
Tensions were high when Sobatik came to the plate, but he grounded out to shortstop Grant Norris to end the game and secured Johnstown’s first-ever victory in an elimination game at the world series.
“I knew they’d pull it out eventually. It just took a little time,” Mulhollen said. “Krause didn’t have his best stuff, but he got an out and I knew Troy would close the deal. I had complete confidence in both of them.”
The situation was in stark contrast to the scene just an hour earlier when Johnstown took its first lead of the game. After stranding runners in scoring position in the first and second innings, the Boilers finally broke through in the third when Emert hit a two-run homer to left-center field and was mobbed by his teammates when he crossed home plate.
The clutch hitting was something Houston was missing. Houston left nine on base, including four in scoring position during the first three innings. It had runners on first and third with two outs in the second, but a delayed double steal backfired as Langston White was thrown out at home.
Houston manager Kyle Vance’s only regret is being quick to make a pitching change after his son, Keegan, issued a walk and gave up a double to start the four-run sixth inning.
“I guess I regretted the pitching change, but they didn’t give up; they fought and they fought until the very last out,” Kyle Vance said. “That was a good team we played. We came out flat, but I don’t have any regrets since we fought.”
Johnstown added four in the sixth inning when Mulhollen drew a lead-off walk, Norris doubled off the top of the wall in left field and Cory Owens hit a sharp liner that one-hopped between the legs of Houston’s right fielder to score two runs.
Two pitches later, pinch-hitter Jake Shope hit a two-run homer to left field for a 6-0 lead. The Boilers had runners on first and third later in the inning, but Bryce McCleester was caught in a rundown leading off first.
Once he was tagged out by Houston’s Dylan Berg, the first baseman quickly threw to third base where Brodie Harbaugh was three feet from the bag and was also tagged out to end the inning.
Despite the late comeback stemming from the mistakes, Johnstown made history in front of a large contingent of fans who made the 97-mile trek to Washington Park.
“This means everything. All the boys wanted it, the coaches wanted it, the families wanted and now we have another night,” Mulhollen said. “We’re looking forward to tomorrow.”