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Pony Series ride ends
By Joe Tuscano
WASHINGTON, PA.
After a 51-year absence, the journey for Youngstown’s 14-year-old All-Star team at the Pony World Series began with a thrilling and emotional victory over Culiacan, Mexico.
Five days later, the trip ended as Youngstown fell 11-2 on Wednesday to West Zone champion Long Beach, Calif., at Lew Hays Pony Field.
Youngstown finished with a 1-2 record in the tournament, defeating Culiacan 2-1 in the first round before losing 12-3 to Chinese Taipei, the Asia-Pacific Zone winner, on Tuesday.
Wednesday’s loss eliminated Youngstown while Long Beach moves on to today’s championship game against Chinese Taipei.
“For a team that was put together three weeks ago, I am so proud that the kids made it this far,” Youngstown manager Paul Hammond. “When we started, half these kids didn’t even know each other.
“We played two very good teams and sometimes that’s just the way it works out.”
Long Beach dominated from the outset, scoring a run in the second, two in the third, three in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 7-1 lead.
The West Zone champion had 14 hits by then but left nine on base.
Long Beach added four more runs on two hits and two Youngstown errors in the sixth inning.
“Our kids have been doing well,” Long Beach manager Ken Jakemer said. “We just have to keep playing our game.”
Catcher Blake Perkins went 4-for-5, knocked in two runs and scored twice for Long Beach. Leadoff hitter Tristin Chamberlain had three hits and scored three runs, and first baseman Josh Goldberg was on base four times and scored three runs.
Youngstown scored a run in the fourth inning when Austin Brunstetter beat out an infield hit and came around to score on a double by Alec Hammond.
The other run came in the sixth and averted a 10-run rule situation. Hunter Snyder singled to center field and came around to score on Tommy Cannon’s double down the left field line.
“In our first game here, our kids pitched well,” Hammomd said. “You think you have a chance.
“Then you see the other teams have deeper pitching [staffs] and good hitters. We just never seemed to get into a groove after the first win.”
Still, Hammond and his team matched the 1960 Youngstown team that played in this World Series with their 1-2 finish.
“The community has just been great,” Hammond said. “We got a ton of phone calls and a ton of texts.
“It was really inspiring for the kids,” Hammond said. “It’s been a great ride and we were glad to represent the community. The kids had a blast, and they were exposed to a high caliber of baseball.”
Alec Hammond finished the game with two hits.
Jake Millikin, who played on the 1955 Youngstown Pony League World Series team that finished second to host Washington, was on hand to watch his grandson, Brandon Chamberlain, play third base for the 2011 Youngstown All-Stars.
The Youngstown team made the nearly two-hour trip to Washington by car for each game, but they brought a loud fan following with them.