Babe Ruth 14s suffer tough loss

Youngstown rallied from a 6-1 deficit but lost in the eighth inning.

QUINCY, Mass. — Fate played a cruel trick on the Youngstown Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars Friday.

Playing Norwalk (Conn.) in a semifinal game at the World Series, Youngstown battled back from a five-run deficit entering the sixth inning, only to lose, 7-6, in eight innings at Adams Field.

The loss eliminated Youngstown from the tournament with a 4-2 record.

“We were losing 6-1 going into the sixth inning and then we scored a couple of runs and battled back in the seventh to scored three runs to tie it,” said Youngstown manager Terry Landis.

“We had guys on base through out the game,” said Landis. “We loaded the bases in the fourth inning, but they [Norwalk] would make spectacular plays to get us out.

“The kids felt bad and were a little down,” said Landis, “We outplayed them, but they got the breaks, made the plays and ended our season.”

Norwalk improved to 4-1 — its only loss was a one-run decision against Youngstown in pool play — and will play in the championship game today at 1 p.m. against the winner of Friday’s other semifinal between Nederland, Texas, and Tallahassee, Fla.

Youngstown took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of Friday’s game, when Dan Popio doubled with two outs and scored when G.J. Senchak’s fly ball was mishandled for an error.

Norwalk, though, rallied with a pair of runs in the second inning on Bryan Daniello’s two-run triple.

Norwalk made it 5-1 in the third on a RBI single by Scott Angeley and Mark Hegar’s two-run single.

Norwalk extended its lead to 6-1 in the fourth on a RBI single by James Cooksey.

Youngstown began its rally in the top of the sixth inning. Popio led off with a single, then Senchak tripled to make it 6-2.

With two outs John Sansone hit a sharp liner to drive in the next run.

In the seventh, Youngstown scored three runs to tie the score. Justin Fleo and Andre Jones led off with back-to-back singles, then Popio hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-4.

Senchak then doubled to put runners at second and third.

After a pitching change, Jones scored on a passed ball and Cody Pitzo followed with a RBI single to right, tying the score.

In the bottom of the eighth, Norwalk scored the winning run with a single, a sacrifice bunt and an error.