CLARKS SUMMIT — Lincoln Anderson took the mound thinking if he threw the ball over the plate, the defense behind him would make the plays needed to win the game.
He was right.
Anderson held Abington National to one hit, a double from third baseman Andrew Summa, and Abington American rolled to a 10-0 win in the Pennsylvania District 17 9-10 year-old All-Star championship baseball game Thursday, July 14 at Jim Hatton Field.
“I was just trying to throw strikes and let them hit the ball,” Anderson said. “(My defense) was solid, Adam (Dempsey) made a great play in center field and there were no errors. They were doing a great job.”
American right fielder Jake Lenahan drove in two runs with a double to the left-center field gap in the bottom of the first inning and Reece Vida lined a double down the first base line to plate another run and give his team a 3-0 lead.
“I wanted to get a hit to score some runs and get us up on top,” Lenahan said.
Three more runs scored when Lenahan drove a ball to right field in the bottom of the second inning. Lenahan advanced to third base on the play and later scored on a passed ball.
“When I was coming up to bat, I really wanted to get a hit because I knew if I got a single I’d at least knock two runs in,” Lenahan said.
American scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game due to the mercy rule. Third baseman Connor Casey had an RBI single and shortstop Conner Griffin delivered an RBI double and scored on a passed ball to clinch the victory.
Abington American defeated Abington National, 10-9, July 13 to force the decisive game in the double elimination tournament. In that contest, Lincoln Anderson had three hits, including a double, Griffin had a single and home run, Madison Zalewski had a single and double, Dempsey had two singles, and Lenahan earned the win for American. For National, Summa had a double and triple, Mark Nazar had a single and double, Roman Cutrufello had two singles and Zach Brister had a double.
“To have both Abington teams in the district final is a good reflection of the Abington Little League,” Abington American manager Jeremy Anderson said. “Out of 11 teams in pool play, I’m proud that we were the last two left.”
Although he was happy his team came out on the winning end, Lincoln Anderson felt it was a unique circumstance competing against many of his friends.
“You want to win and have fun and you want your friends to win and have fun, but not if you’re playing against them,” he said.
Abington American will begin play in the Section 5 Tournament on July 18 against an opponent to be determined.