Dallastown baseball's late lead slips away

MILLERSVILLE >> While it likely wasn't one pitch that cost the Dallastown baseball team a victory in their playoff opener versus Penn Manor, there was just one Comets player who did all the damage.

Sophomore pitcher Jeff Taylor threw seven strong innings and helped himself with the game-winning hit in the bottom of the sixth inning to turn away the Wildcats, 2-1, Monday afternoon at Penn Manor's Comet Field.

The win keeps No. 4 Penn Manor (19-5) moving on in the District 3 Class AAAA bracket, while No. 13 Dallastown (11-9) ends its season much the way it began — with Penn Manor coming from behind to defeat the Wildcats.

"Second heartbreaking loss," said Dallastown head coach Scott Altland. "We did everything that we needed to do to win the game."

With Dallastown leading 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Taylor came to the plate versus Wildcats' relief pitcher Riley Hamberger with runners on second and third and two out.

Fouling off numerous full-count pitches, Taylor lined a fastball past first base, scoring Collin Groff and Nate McFarland for the 2-1 lead.

The Comets' lefty then slammed the door with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, finishing the game with seven strikeouts and just one walk, not to mention tallying all three Penn Manor hits on the day.

"Hate to say one pitch lost us the game, but one pitch there in the sixth inning, he got all of it," Altland said. "I told (Taylor) coming through the line (he) single-handedly beat us today, so good job to him."

The Wildcats took their 1-0 lead in the third inning when Bryant Holtzapple drilled a one-out double to left, scoring on Cody Sommerville's single to center.

"I think they hit a changeup for a double, (Taylor) had that up a little bit," said Penn Manor's head coach Jim Zander. "Other than that I don't know that he made a mistake the whole game. He zoned in; great composure for a 10th grader."

Wildcats' starter Andrew Stambaugh (four strikeouts, three walks) was equally effective, allowing just two hits. Hamberger came on in relief in the bottom of the sixth, getting Anthony Knight on a fly ball to left to end a bases-loaded opportunity for the Comets.

"I told (Stambaugh) after I brought him out, you gave me everything that I needed from you, and we'll see if we can hold on for the win here for you," Altland said. "It just didn't work out."

Penn Manor 2, Dallastown 1

Dallastown0010000—130Penn Manor000002x—233

Dt, A. Stambaugh, Riley Hamberger (5) and Bryant Holtzapple. PM, Jeff Taylor and A. Knight.

SO-BB— Dt, Stambaugh 4-3, Hamberger 0-2. PM, Taylor 7-1; W — Taylor; L — Hamberger; 2B — Dt, Holtzapple.