Maine-Endwell topples the Junior Hellcats in District 6 playoffs
Tracie Vinal Photo
ENDWELL – When the dust settled for the season, The Chenango County Junior Hellcats remarkably played Maine-Endwell six times – splitting the six games series at 3-3 – however, it was Maine-Endwell who earned the most important win, eliminating the Junior Hellcats with a 2-1 win on Tuesday, July 18.
After losing to M-E on Saturday, July 15, the Junior Hellcats entered into an elimination game with Maine-Endwell – winner earns the right to advance to play Vestal, loser goes home.
The series record at the time sat in favor of the Hellcats at 3-2 – as the Hellcats earned the better of M-E throughout the regular season, taking the series at 3-1.
However, back-to-back playoff wins for M-E sent the Junior Hellcats packing.
“M-E scored two in the first off of good hitting. (M-E) put the ball in play, moved runners, and produced. There were a few close calls that didn't go our way, that helped M-E put runners on base. We were fortunate to escape with just two (runs) allowed,” said Junior Hellcats head coach Nick McCullough.
Following the bottom of the first inning – where Maine-Endwell smashed in two runs for the 2-0 lead – the Junior Hellcats buckled down and went to work, blanking the Spartans for the remainder of the game.
“They threw Mancini (Michael Mancini of the Little League World Series Champion team from Maine-Endwell) again, verses us. We've had his number all regular season. We hit him pretty hard all year,” said coach McCullough. “Today, we did the same, we just hit it right at them. I've never coached a game where I've seen so many smoked balls, that were caught. You have got to tip your hat to him for pitching a great game. He made some gutsy pitches at points in the game, and they went in his favor.”
Taking the loss on the mound for the Junior Hellcats was Cody Beckwith.
“Cody (Beckwith) pitched absolutely amazing. We had a game plan on how to attack the hitters, and he did exactly what he had to do. He mixed it up and kept them off balanced. When you have a starter, give up two runs. You expect your offense to produce, and today we didn't. I'm proud of him (Cody Beckwith),” said coach McCullough of his pitcher. “Like I've said before, this is playoff baseball at its finest. You never know how many runs it's going to take to win. Today it was only two. We put the ball in play, had a few chances and couldn't come through. I will say they will have their hands full with Vestal. Especially with the NYS pitch count rules. Vestal is a great team and I think they'll give them a run, but you always have got to watch out for the underdog.”
Mancini pitched all seven innings for five strikeouts and two walks, allowing four hits. Beckwith pitched six innings, taking five strikeouts, while allowing three walks and four hits.
The Junior Hellcats produced four hits in the game as a team – matching the production at the plate of Maine-Endwell. Impressively, the Hellcats committed no errors, while M-E survived their two errors in the field, to take the win.
Claiming the four hits in the loss for the Hellcats, was Nick Shoemaker, Marcus Cashman, Tyler Hagen, and Eli Rodriguez – each having one hit.
The top of the seventh saw the Junior Hellcats add their one run, avoiding the shutout in their final game, but failing to come back for the late tie.
“Was a good game, we just ended up on the wrong side of it,” said Junior Hellcat General Manager, Jason Miller. “We gave up two in the first, then blanked them the rest of the way, and we had some great opportunities, (M-E) just hit into a couple double plays. We scraped on back and threatened few times. Our pitching was great, defense stellar, and our hitting was there too. Just couldn't climb out of the hole. We ran out of outs.”
With the loss on Tuesday, the Junior Hellcats unfortunately wrap up their 2017 summer season, making a playoff appearance with an overall record of 7-9.
“Obviously the season ended in disappointment. We didn't reach our goals, but this was the first year of the junior program. Going 7-9 (overall) is not a bad first season. Four of our losses were in the Middletown tournament in June, where those teams were older, and we were missing several starters,” said coach McCullough. “I'm proud to have coached these young men and look forward to seeing what kind of baseball players they turn into.”
H: 0 0 0 0 0 0 1– 1 4 0
ME: 2 0 0 0 0 0 0– 2 4 2
ENDWELL – When the dust settled for the season, The Chenango County Junior Hellcats remarkably played Maine-Endwell six times – splitting the six games series at 3-3 – however, it was Maine-Endwell who earned the most important win, eliminating the Junior Hellcats with a 2-1 win on Tuesday, July 18.
After losing to M-E on Saturday, July 15, the Junior Hellcats entered into an elimination game with Maine-Endwell – winner earns the right to advance to play Vestal, loser goes home.
The series record at the time sat in favor of the Hellcats at 3-2 – as the Hellcats earned the better of M-E throughout the regular season, taking the series at 3-1.
However, back-to-back playoff wins for M-E sent the Junior Hellcats packing.
“M-E scored two in the first off of good hitting. (M-E) put the ball in play, moved runners, and produced. There were a few close calls that didn't go our way, that helped M-E put runners on base. We were fortunate to escape with just two (runs) allowed,” said Junior Hellcats head coach Nick McCullough.
Following the bottom of the first inning – where Maine-Endwell smashed in two runs for the 2-0 lead – the Junior Hellcats buckled down and went to work, blanking the Spartans for the remainder of the game.
“They threw Mancini (Michael Mancini of the Little League World Series Champion team from Maine-Endwell) again, verses us. We've had his number all regular season. We hit him pretty hard all year,” said coach McCullough. “Today, we did the same, we just hit it right at them. I've never coached a game where I've seen so many smoked balls, that were caught. You have got to tip your hat to him for pitching a great game. He made some gutsy pitches at points in the game, and they went in his favor.”
Taking the loss on the mound for the Junior Hellcats was Cody Beckwith.
“Cody (Beckwith) pitched absolutely amazing. We had a game plan on how to attack the hitters, and he did exactly what he had to do. He mixed it up and kept them off balanced. When you have a starter, give up two runs. You expect your offense to produce, and today we didn't. I'm proud of him (Cody Beckwith),” said coach McCullough of his pitcher. “Like I've said before, this is playoff baseball at its finest. You never know how many runs it's going to take to win. Today it was only two. We put the ball in play, had a few chances and couldn't come through. I will say they will have their hands full with Vestal. Especially with the NYS pitch count rules. Vestal is a great team and I think they'll give them a run, but you always have got to watch out for the underdog.”
Mancini pitched all seven innings for five strikeouts and two walks, allowing four hits. Beckwith pitched six innings, taking five strikeouts, while allowing three walks and four hits.
The Junior Hellcats produced four hits in the game as a team – matching the production at the plate of Maine-Endwell. Impressively, the Hellcats committed no errors, while M-E survived their two errors in the field, to take the win.
Claiming the four hits in the loss for the Hellcats, was Nick Shoemaker, Marcus Cashman, Tyler Hagen, and Eli Rodriguez – each having one hit.
The top of the seventh saw the Junior Hellcats add their one run, avoiding the shutout in their final game, but failing to come back for the late tie.
“Was a good game, we just ended up on the wrong side of it,” said Junior Hellcat General Manager, Jason Miller. “We gave up two in the first, then blanked them the rest of the way, and we had some great opportunities, (M-E) just hit into a couple double plays. We scraped on back and threatened few times. Our pitching was great, defense stellar, and our hitting was there too. Just couldn't climb out of the hole. We ran out of outs.”
With the loss on Tuesday, the Junior Hellcats unfortunately wrap up their 2017 summer season, making a playoff appearance with an overall record of 7-9.
“Obviously the season ended in disappointment. We didn't reach our goals, but this was the first year of the junior program. Going 7-9 (overall) is not a bad first season. Four of our losses were in the Middletown tournament in June, where those teams were older, and we were missing several starters,” said coach McCullough. “I'm proud to have coached these young men and look forward to seeing what kind of baseball players they turn into.”
H: 0 0 0 0 0 0 1– 1 4 0
ME: 2 0 0 0 0 0 0– 2 4 2
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