Pleasureville wins York-Adams American Legion championship
Pleasureville liked winning so much Monday night, it decided to turn around and do it again the following day.
After knocking off Dallastown 7-3 to force a second game in the York-Adams American Legion championship series, Pleasureville won the second matchup as well Tuesday, 3-1, at Central York High School.
Head coach Elliott Ness was quick to pass credit along to starting pitcher Brandon Walters, along with the team's defensive effort and ability to scratch out just enough offense.
"If you go out and do the small things — get bunts down, hit and runs, steal bases, play good defense, and obviously get good pitching — you'll win games that way," Ness said. "Everyone wants to hit balls out of the ballpark, but it doesn't happen in high school, it doesn't happen in Legion....I've always been a believer in small ball."
More: Pleasureville beats Dallastown, forces rubber match for Legion championship
Pleasureville led 3-0 entering the seventh and final inning, but Dallastown put the first three base runners on. Darren Sciortino's RBI base hit to center made the score 3-1 and put the tying runners on base.
Enter Pleasureville closer Beau Burris, however, who came in for Walters. Burris struck out three straight batters, including the final two with runners on second and third. He threw high heat and got his curveball over effectively while pitching out of the stretch in a high-pressure situation.
"I didn't think we'd have him today. But he said he wanted to come to the championship and have a chance to beat Dallastown," Ness said. "It's nice to have that back-end when you need it."
Burris attends Rowan University in New Jersey, where he said he played club baseball last year.
"Just confidence. I knew it was towards the bottom of their lineup and I knew I had a good shot. Just had to pump strikes," Burris said. "I pitched against them the last two times we played them, came in and closed it. I knew what I was facing."
Pleasurville scored its three runs the fundamental way: An RBI base hit to left from Nick Myers in the bottom of the first; a sacrifice fly to right field from Myers in the third; and a Ben Ward run scored off a wild pitch in the fifth.
They also flashed some leather throughout the evening. Myers' running catch in left field — going deep to his right and toward the foul line — in the sixth inning was a thing of beauty. Moments later, Burris made a nice pick at third base and went to second for the force out to end the inning.
Dallastown was the victim of some bad breaks as well. Down 2-0 in the fifth inning, the team had runners at first and third with one out, yet Cole Bankert's bunt attempt went straight in the air and was grabbed by Burris. The third baseman then fired to first to complete the double play and escape the jam.
Ben Reed won Most Valuable Player of the tournament for his play at second base and timely hitting. Mike Livingston won Most Valuable Pitcher following his Monday night gem to beat Dallastown.
Both teams advance to the American Legion regionals, which begin Saturday in Fredericksburg.