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MANSFIELD -- For the first time in the 13-year history of the Joel Stephens Invitational, four teams have emerged from the divisional round with undefeated 3-0 records and will compete for the 13th annual Stephens championship Monday.
MR Dirt, Bradford County, Brockville and Horseheads each went undefeated to win their respective divisions, setting up one of the most exciting championship days in the history of the tournament.
After the first three sets of games were played Sunday, the playoff picture for the Stephens championship was set, while the Palmer playoff picture needed to wait till the conclusion of the 6 p.m. set of games.
The winners of each of the four divisions advance to the Stephens semifinals, while the second-place finisher in each of the divisions advances to the Palmer semifinals.
Defending champion MR Dirt defeated South Western York to finish 3-0 in the Naylor/Dobson Division, punching a ticket to the Stephens semis for the second consecutive year. They will meet familiar faces in the semifinals, as Bradford County completed a 3-0 sweep to win the Palmer/Henneman division. The two teams are both based out of Towanda, Pa. and will meet in the semifinals at noon at Shaute Field Monday.
The other semifinal will consist of Brockville, making its first appearance in the Stephens semis after sweeping the Heaps/Heaps division with impressive wins. They will meet Horseheads, which went 3-0 to win the Hunter/Jones division. Brockville and Horseheads will play at noon at Kelly Field Monday.
The winners of the two noon Stephens semifinals will meet for the 13th annual championship at 3 p.m. at Shaute Field.
Hershey punched a ticket to the 9 a.m. Palmer semifinal at Kelly Field by winning a head-to-head tiebreaker against Bath Fitters to place second in the Heaps/Heaps division. They will meet Cherry Hill, which defeated Mansfield Sunday night to place second in the Hunter/Jones division.
The other Palmer semifinal will feature Elmira Heights, which finished 2-1 to place second in the Palmer/Henneman division. Heights will face South Western York, which defeated Bellefonte with a comeback in the seventh inning Sunday night, at 9 a.m. at Shaute Field Monday.
The winners of the two 9 a.m. Palmer semifinals will play for the Palmer championship at noon at Stephens Field in Williamson.
The complete divisional standings are listed below, along with recaps and stats from all 12 of Sunday's games.
STANDINGS
Naylor/Dobson
MR Dirt (3-0)*
South Western York (2-1)$
Bellefonte (1-2)
Big Flats (0-3)
Heaps/Heaps
Brockville (3-0)^
Hershey (1-2)#
Bath Fitters (1-2)
Corning Gray (1-2)
Hunter/Jones
Horseheads (3-0)^
Cherry Hill (2-1)#
Mansfield (1-2)
Utica (0-3)
Palmer/Henneman
Bradford County (3-0)*
Elmira Heights (2-1)$
Bath (1-2)
Northern Tioga (0-3)
*advances to Stephens Semifinals, Monday at noon at Shaute Field.
^ advances to Stephens Semifinals, Monday at noon at Kelly Field.
$ advances to Palmer Semifinals, Monday at 9 a.m. at Shaute Field.
# advances to Palmer Semifinals, Monday at 9 a.m. at Kelly Field.
9 a.m. at Shaute Field
Mansfield - 4
Utica - 3
MANSFIELD – It took extra innings, but Mansfield was able to hand Utica its second loss of the tournament with 4-3 eight-inning victory Sunday at Shaute Field. Mansfield jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but Utica came back to force extra innings before ultimately falling in the eighth inning.
Tom Reese had a game-best two RBI for Mansfield, but it was teammate Nick Callahan whose double in the eighth inning drove in the game-winning run. Brandon Owlett also produced an RBI for Mansfield. Thomas Johnston struck out eight and earned the victory.
Mansfield started out quickly by posting three runs in the second inning before its bats fell silent for the remainder of regulation. Utica mounted its comeback by scoring runs in the fourth and fifth inning off of RBI from Nick Maldonado and Justin Hall to cut the lead to just 3-2. In the bottom of the seventh inning Dan Priore came through with an RBI hit to tie the game and force extra innings.
However, Mansfield wasted little time in extra innings. With a runner on second base due to International tie-breaker rules, Callahan stroked a double that scored what would turn out to be the game-winning run to give Mansfield its first win of the tournament.
Mansfield 030 000 01 4-8-0
Utica 000 110 10 3-6-1
Utica: Ryan Alesandro (L) and Dan Priore
2B: Priore, Nick Wilsey, Mike Lackey
RBI: Priore, Nick Maldonado, Justin Hall
Mansfield (1-1): Thomas Johnston (W) and Tom Reese
2B: Nick Saniga, Tom Reese
RBI: Reese (2), Nick Callahan, Brandon Owlett
9 a.m. at Stephens Field
Bath - 1
Bradford Co. - 11
WILLIAMSON – For the second consecutive game, the Bradford County Bobcats defeated its opponent via the 10-run rule with an 11-1 defeat of the Bath at Stephens Field.
The Bobcats scored two runs in the first inning, seven in the second inning and one in the seventh while Bath produced its only run of the game in the fourth inning.
Pierce Ranck led Bradford County with two-RBI, with Kaleb Route, Trey Patton and Kye Novak each driving in a run each. The Bobcats used three pitchers in their win with starter Logan Hitchcock getting the win.
Justin Howell drove in Bath's run in the fourth inning. Starter Ethan Hall was credited with the loss.
Bath 000 10 1-5-3
Bradford Co. 270 02 11-9-0
Bradford County (2-0): Logan Hitchcock (W), Chris Rock (3), Trey Patton (5) and Kaleb Route
RBI: Route, Patton, Pierce Ranck (2), Scott Rockwell, Kye Novak
Bath (1-2): Ethan Hall (L), Kiele Wilson (2) and Pete McDonnell
RBI: Justin Howell
9 a.m. at Kelly Field
MANSFIELD – The Brockville Bunnies kept its perfect record intact with a 13-3 win over Corning Gray Sunday morning at Kelly Field. The loss officially eliminates Corning Gray from the tournament.
Brockville found itself trailing 2-1 after the first inning, but quickly rebounded to score three runs in the second inning and six more runs in the fourth before finally adding three runs in the seventh inning.
Austin Marcellus, who had two hits and two RBI, led the Bunnies. Jay Flannigan also had a three-hit day, including a triple, for Brockville. Spencer Green was the third Brockville player to have a multi-hit game with two hits. Jarrod Mattingly pitched a complete-game and struck out seven for the win.
Zack LeBaron, who had three hits on the day, and Sean Locker both had RBI hits for Corning Gray while Travis Rosenwinkel added a double as well in the losing effort.
Brockville 130 600 3 13-10-1
Corning 200 010 0 3-7-4
Brockville (2-0): Jarrod Mattingly (W) and Zane Fish
2B: Austin Marcellus 3B: Jay Flannigan
RBI: Marcellus (2), Dylan Casselman (2), Fish, John Coleman, Jordan Havekes
Corning Gray (1-2): Zack Hugg (L), Nick Frampton (4) and Colin Juneski
2B: Travis Rosenwinkel
RBI: Zack LeBaron, Sean Locker
11:30 a.m. at Shaute Field
Bradford County- 9
Elmira Heights- 8
MANSFIELD – Bradford County's Zack Place threw six innings, Taylor Skerpon earned the save and Bradford County locked up the Palmer/Henneman division with a 9-8 come from behind victory over Elmira Heights in game two at Shaute Field Sunday afternoon.
Bradford County jumped out to an early 6-2 lead after four innings chasing Elmira Heights starter Zack Levanduski after just one inning of work. Place cruised through the early part of the game after allowing two unearned runs in the top of the first. Elmira Heights added a single tally in the fifth inning and used four Bradford County errors to plate five runs in the sixth and took a 8-6 lead after five and a half innings.
Bradford County retook the lead for good in the bottom half of the sixth, scoring three runs on just a single hit. After the first two batters of the frame walked Logan Hitchcock doubled to deep right center, driving in two runs to knot the score at 8-8. Hitchcock finished 2-4 with two doubles, three rbi and scored the go ahead run in the bottom of the sixth.
Place threw six strong innings scattering six hits while allowing eight unearned runs to pick up the win. He walked just three and struck out seven before giving way to Skerpon to close out the contest.
Elmira Heights 200 015 0 8-6-1
Bradford County 302 103 x 9-6-8
Elmira Heights (1-1): Zack Levanduski, Brad Bellinger (L, 2) and Chuck Gublo Jr.
2B: Jeff Mathers
RBI: Chris Coghlan, Jeff Mathers, Chuck Gublo Jr., Zack Levanduski
Bradford County (3-0): Zack Place (W), Taylor Skerpon (S, 7) and Kaleb Route
2B: Logan Hitchcock (2), Taylor Skerpon
RBI: Logan Hitchcock (3), Taylor Skerpon, Pierce Ranck, Kaleb Route
11:30 a.m. at Kelly Field
Hershey – 3
Bath Fitters – 1
MANSFIELD – Hershey scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning and added an insurance run in the seventh to hold off Bath Fitters (Williamsport, Pa.) 3-1 in the second game of the day at Kelly Field.
Tim Edwards earned the win on the mound for Hershey, throwing a complete game and allowing just one run on six hits.
Bath Fitters went with their pitcher-by-committee approach with Jared Fagnano starting the game and Ryan Hostrander and Cam Kiriner also seeing time on the mound.
Zach Warren had the go-ahead RBI single for Hershey, while Griffin Sponaugle and Vince Pasquini each added an RBI. Sponaugle and Jack Stover each had two hits for the winners.
Bath Fitters was led at the plate by Kyle Schneider with one RBI and Travis Singer with a triple.
Hershey improved to 1-1 with the win and remained alive in its division, while Bath Fitters finished divisional play with a 1-2 record to place third in the Heaps/Heaps division.
Hershey 000 200 1 3-9-3
Bath Fitters 100 000 0 1-6-0
Hershey (1-1): Tim Edwards (W) ad Zach Warren
2B: Gage Chisolm
RBI: Warren, Griffin Sponaugle, Vince Pasquini
Bath Fitters (1-2): Jared Fagnano, Nick Hostrander, Cam Kriner and Josh McCormick
3B: Travis Singer
RBI: Kyle Schneider
11:30 a.m. at Stephens Field
Big Flats - 4
Bellefonte - 14
WILLIAMSON -- Bellefonte scored 10 runs in the bottom of the third inning to break open what was a one-run game en route to defeating Big Flats 14-4 in five innings at Stephens Field.
Garrett Grainey earned the win on the mound for Bellefonte, throwing 4 2/3 innings and allowing just two hits. Tee Milliken, who entered the game in the second inning, was credited with the loss for Big Flats.
Grainey helped his cause with a double and two RBIs at the plate. Austin Mock and and Eric Regel each added two RBIs as well and Zach Moerschbacher added a double.
With the win, Bellefonte improved to 1-1 and kept itself alive in the division race. Big Flats dropped to 0-2.
Big Flats 002 02x x 4-2-0
Bellefonte 3010 01x x 14-9-2
Big Flats (0-2): Ernie Kirkwood, Tee Milliken (L, 2) and Skylar Leljedal
Bellefonte (1-1): Garrett Grainey (W), Zach Moerschbacher (5) and Eric Regel
2B: Grainey, Moerschbacher, Austin Mock
RBI: Grainey (2), Mock (2), Regel (2)
2:30 p.m. at Shaute Field
Brockville - 10
Hershey - 3
Mansfield – Brockville improved to 3-0 with a 10-3 win over Hershey Sunday afternoon in game three of four scheduled games at Shaute Field. Brockville the winner of the Heaps/Heaps division will play Horseheads at Kelly Field in the Stephens semifinals Monday at noon. Hershey advances to play in Monday's Palmer semifinal against Cherry Hill.
Brockville broke a 2-2 tie when they exploded for eight runs in the top of the sixth. The Bunnies capitalized on three Hershey errors and used three hits to plate all eight runs with two outs. Spencer Green delivered the knockout punch with a two RBI single to left field increasing the Brockville lead to 6-2.
Zane fish and Spencer Green paced the Brockville offense with two RBIs apiece while Jarrod Mattingly went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Bunnies starting pitcher David Forbes pitched a complete game four hitter. He allowed just three earned runs while striking out five.
Jack Stover received the loss for Hershey working 5.2 innings. He struck out seven, scattering seven hits and surrendered just two earned runs.
Brockville 110 008 0 10-8-2
Hershey 000 020 1 3-4-5
Brockville (3-0): David Forbes (W) and Jay Fish
3B: Jay Flannigan
RBI: Spencer Green (2), Zane Fish (2), Jay Flannigan, Jarrod Mattingly
Hershey (1-2): Jack Stover (L), Griffin Sponaugle (6), Jesse Campbell (7) and Jack Geduldig
2B: Jack Stover
RBI: Eric Hoover, Jack Stover
2:30 p.m. at Kelly Field
MR Dirt - 4
South Western York - 2
MANSFIELD – MR Dirt withstood a late comeback attempt and defeated South Western York 4-2 at Kelly Field. The win gave MR Dirt a 3-0 record and secured them a first-place finish in the Naylor division as well as a spot in a Stephens semifinal game 12 p.m. Monday against Bradford County at Shaute Field.
Four MR Dirt players recorded multi-hit games with Mason Roof leading the by going 3-for-4 with one RBI. Nate Bennett, Zach Ripic and Caleb Sheldon all went 2-for-3 with Sheldon also driving in a run. Kurtis Mallow went hitless, but drove home a critical run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.
Christian Carr picked up the win for MR Dirt after giving up two runs in 5.2 innings with one strikeout. Bennett came on in relief in the sixth inning to record the save. Bennett was perfect in 1.1 innings of work.
MR Dirt would score the game's first two runs in the fourth inning when Bennett and Graeme Zaaparzynski were drove in by Mallow and Sheldon respectively. MR Dirt added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a seemingly comfortable 4-0 lead into the bottom half of the inning.
However, South West York rattled off two runs in the its half of the inning off of an RBI-triple from Colin Porter and a proceeding single from Keith Pappas that scored Porter. But York would strand runners on first and second to end the inning and was unable to complete the comeback-bid in the seventh inning. Porter finished the game 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Parker Bean suffered the loss after giving up two runs in five innings pitched.
MR Dirt 000 202 0 4-10-1
SW York 000 002 0 2-8-1
M R Dirt: (3-0): Christian Carr (W), Nate Bennett (S) and Caleb Sheldon
2B: Zach Ripic
RBI: Sheldon, Mason Roof, Kurtis Mallow
SW York (1-1): Parker Bean (L), Bishop Elder, Evan Pickett and Tyler Harris
2B: Pickett 3B: Colin Porter
RBI: Porter, Keith Pappas
2:30 p.m. at Stephens Field
Elmira Heights - 6
Northern Tioga - 3
WILLIAMSON -- Elmira Heights defeated Northern Tioga 6-3 in the third game of the day at Stephens Field. WIth the win, Heights improved to 2-1 and finished second in the Palmer/Henneman Division.
Heights will play in the Palmer semifinals Monday morning at 9 a.m. at Shaute Field.
Vinny Minichello was credited with the win for Heights after throwing the first three innings. Corey Hamula pitched the fourth and fifth innings and Jeff Mathers threw the sixth to pick up the save.
Luc Kocker took the loss on the mound for Northern Tioga.
At the plate, Bubba Barber was 2-for-2 with a double and Kevin Snyder and Kyle Michaud were each 2-for-3 to lead Heights.
Elmira Heights 002 210 1 6-7-1
No. Tioga 000 102 0 3-6-2
Elmira Heights (2-1): Vinny Minichello (W), Corey Hamula (4), Jeff Mathers (S, 6)
2B: Bubba Barber, Chuck Gublo, Hamula
Northern Tioga (0-3): Luc Kocker (L)
6 p.m. at Kelly Field
Mansfield - 0
Cherry Hill - 4
MANSFIELD – Ben Machinski threw a complete game, giving up just three hits and striking out six batters as Cherry Hill defeated Mansfield 4-0 at Kelly Field. Cherry Hill will now play Hershey at 9 a.m. Sunday at Kelly Field in a Palmer semifinal game.
All four of Cherry Hill's runs came in the third inning as Cherry Hill's offense took advantage of timely hitting and Mansfield fielding errors for its big ending. Brad Machenski, Anthony Lizzi, Pat Gaffney and Al Antuzzi all scored runs. Gaffney and Alex Injaian both drove in a run each.
Machinski was in control for most of the game with the exception of the fifth inning when Mansfield loaded the bases before Machinski was able to come up with a strikeout to end the inning unsaved.
Nick Callahan, Thomas Johnston and James Langs all recorded hits for Mansfield. Ryan Dinger pitched all six innings in the defeat. The loss officially eliminates Mansfield from competition.
Mansfield 000 000 0 0-3-4
Cherry Hill 004 000 x 4-4-0
Mansfield (1-2): Ryan Dinger and Nick Saniga
Cherry Hill (2-1): Ben Machinski and Evan Hacker
RBI: Pat Gaffney, Alex Injaian
6 p.m. at Shaute Field
Bellefonte- 3
South Western York- 4
MANSFIELD– Keith Pappas tripled home the games tying run and scored the winning run on a throwing error as South Western York scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Bellefonte 4-3 Sunday evening at Shute Field. South Western York (2-1) advances to the Palmer semifinal and will face Elmira Heights tomorrow at 9:00 AM on Shaute Field.
Eric Moul threw a complete game seven hitter allowing single runs in the first, fourth and sixth innings, while striking out four Bellefonte batters.
South Western York trailed 2-0 after four and a half innings but knotted the contest a two, when they struck for a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Ian Stambaugh lead off South Western York's half of the fifth inning with a triple then scored on a Bryce Burkentine single. Burkentine then stole second and scored on a throwing error when he stole third.
Bellefonte retook the lead with a single tally in the sixth inning before South Western York scored twice in their final at bat.
Robert Gummo picked up the loss for Bellefonte who is eliminated from tournament play. Gummo throw 6.2 innings allowing just two earned runs while striking out seven and walking just one batter.
Bellefonte 100 101 0 3-7-1
SW York 000 020 2 2-5-1
Bellefonte (1-2): Robert Gummo (L) and Eric Regal
2B: Robert Gummo
RBI: Robert Gummo, Austin Mock, Garrett Grainey
South Western York (2-1): Eric Moul (W) and Tyler Harris
2B: Tyler Harris
3B: Keith Pappas, Ian Stambough
RBI: Keith Pappas, Bryce Burkentine
6 p.m. at Stephens Field
Utica - 4
Horseheads - 5
WILLIAMSON -- Horseheads plated a winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Utica 5-4 in the final game of the day at Stephens Field. The win improved Horseheads to 3-0 and gave them first-place in the Hunter/Jones Division.
Horseheads will advance to the Stephens semifinals to play Brockville at noon Monday at Kelly Field.
Calvin Woolhiser scored from third-base on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh for the winning run.
Mike Jankowski was named the winner for Horseheads after throwing the seventh inning. Matt Hicks threw the first six innings and allowed four runs.
Zell Colnollo was credited with the loss for Utica after allowing the winning run.
Mike Abrunzo had the lone RBI for Horseheads in the game, while Gary McConnell had one RBI for Utica.
Utica 211 000 0 4-5-3
Horseheads 112 000 1 5-8-2
Utica (0-3): Mike Lackey, Zell Colnollo and Dan Priore
2B: Gary McConnell, Drodali
RBI: McConnell
Horseheads (2-1): Matt Hicks, Mike Jankowski (W, 7) and Jake Meehan
2B: Dylan Manwaring, Mike Abrunzo, Calvin Woolhiser
RBI: Abrunzo
