CLARKS SUMMIT — Jacob Anderson hit two home runs and drove in six runs to lead Abington American past Abington National, 19-15, during a pool play game of the District 17 Little League Baseball All Star Tournament on June 28 at the Ackerly Complex.
Abington National struck for three runs in the top of the first inning. After Ben Kubic, Andrew Maddock and Scott Gilbert each reached base on walks to start the game, Michael Servas drove in two runs with a single. Corey Abel drove in a run when we was walked with the bases loaded.
Abington American responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Anderson doubled to drive in a run and later scored on a passed ball while Michael Show singled and scored on a passed ball after stealing two bases.
Servas drove a three-run home run to center field in the top of the second after a single from Kubic and walk by Gilbert to put Abington National back in the lead, 6-3.
Abington National added four runs in the top of the third inning. Ty Wilmot led of with a single and later stole home, Kubic singled and scored on a throwing error and Louie Natale knocked in two runs with a double off the right field fence.
Jimmy Miller singled to start the bottom of the third for Abington American and Anderson crushed a two-run home run over the center field fence. The next batter, Gabe Pietryka, hit a solo home run over the left field wall to cut American’s deficit to four runs.
Wilmot reached on a fielder’s choice and came around to score on a passed ball in the top of the fourth inning to give Abington National an 11-6 lead.
Show hit a triple off the top of the fence in right field for Abington American in the bottom of the fourth and scored on a wild pitch and, after Miller reached on an error and John Deibert doubled, Anderson drilled a three-run home run to left-center field.
“He’s been strong all year,” Abington American head coach Philip Medico said of Anderson. “Jacob is a phenomenal baseball player and a special hitter. To watch those balls go over the fence was fun.”
Abington American broke through with nine runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Zach Boersma started the rally by reaching base on an error. Show followed with an RBI double and later scored on a passed ball. Deibert and Pietryka each contributed RBI doubles and Richie Padula added an RBI single. Boersma and Bodie LaCoe scored on passed balls and Padula scored on a wild pitch.
“When we were putting this team together, I knew we had some real special hitters and they came through today,” Abington American head coach Philip Medico said. “Top to bottom, our lineup is very difficult and they hit the baseball hard. (Abington National) has some phenomenal pitchers; I’m not going to lie to you, there were times when I was very nervous during the game, but the kids came back and played absolutely fantastic.”
Abington National scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Gilbert cracked a three-run home run and Kyle Nealon scored on a throwing error, but their late rally fell short when Andrew Taylor grounded out to first base to end the game.
With the win, Abington American improves to 1-1 in pool play. It will play Christy Mathewson at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30 at the Lakeland/Scott Township Little League field. Abington National dropped to 1-1 pool play. It will play North Pocono at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 at the Old Forge Little League field.