Hagerstown wins East Zone, will make a return trip to PONY-13 World Series
For the second straight year, the Hagerstown PONY League 13U All-Stars will travel to California to play in the World Series.
Andrew Weaver pitched five strong innings, Ryder Linn's two-run double was the biggest blow in an eight-run third inning, and Hagerstown defeated Martella's, of Johnstown, Pa., 10-3 in the East Zone championship game at Funkhouser Park on Sunday morning.
Weaver allowed one unearned run on four hits and a walk while striking out four for the victory.
“Andrew, he's cool as ice. Nothing bothers him,” said Hagerstown manager Dave Barr. “When you look at him and see his frame — he's no bigger than maybe 5-foot-3, 5-foot-4 — you're surprised at how live his fastball is and how hard he can bring it. He has a good changeup, a good breaking ball, he mixes his pitches well and kids are surprised when he throws a fastball and it ends up in the glove.”
The PONY-13 World Series begins Friday in Modesto, Calif. Hagerstown will play its first game at 4 p.m.
“It's really hectic. We've got to flay out of Pittsburgh so we'll have to leave on Wednesday,” Barr said. “But I know the kids are excited and I'm really happy for them.”
Hagerstown took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Mason Linton.
Martella's tied the game at 1 in the bottom of the second when Weaver was called for a balk with a runner on third.
Hagerstown blew the game open with eight runs in the third. Four walks — three with the bases loaded — helped get the rally going.
“(Martella's) were a little deep into their bullpen, so we took pitches early until we got a strike on some hitters,” Barr said. “I thought that paid dividends and it worked out well for us in that inning.”
Landon Myers and Weaver hit RBI singles, Linn added his two-run double and the final run of the inning scored on a wild pitch.
Martella's made it 9-3 in the sixth on a two-run homer by Ryan Felix.
Hagerstown added a run in the seventh on an RBI single by Manny Brookens, who went 4-for-5. Weaver and Linton finished with two hits each.
Hagerstown went 2-1 in the three-team, double-elimination Zone tournament, rallying to defeat the Ohio Prospects 4-3 in the winners' bracket final Friday before falling 6-1 to Martella's in the opening game of the championship round Saturday.
“Basically what I told them was you could throw out Friday and Saturday, today is the only thing that matters,” Barr said. “We were flat yesterday, but let's wipe that away today and come out with some enthusiasm and compete for 21 outs.”
Hagerstown will make its fifth appearance in the PONY-13 World Series since 2004.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown wins PONY-13 East Zone tournament for World Series berth
