Hancock prevails in 10-11 slugfest

July 04, 2010|By WILL ROBINSON/Staff Correspondent

West End and Hancock staged a slugfest at West End in the Maryland District 1 10-11 Little League Tournament on Saturday.

After matching each other run for run throughout, it was Hancock that ended up on top, 14-13.

Hancock will travel to Halfway in a winner's bracket game Monday, while West End will host Valley in a losers' bracket game. Both games will start at 6 p.m.

Both teams got started early, trading a pair of first-inning 3-run homers by West End's Cameron Davis and Hancock starting pitcher Cameron Castle.

"I was excited, I wanted to win, and I wanted that home run to hit the highway," said Castle.

Hancock struck again in the second, as wild pitches allowed Dalton Trail, Chris Russell and Smith to score to knock out West End starter Derrick Hughes for a 6-3 lead.

West End came back in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Shaun Hickman and Davis' two-run single to tie the game at 6. Davis had six RBIs on the day.

"I was just concentrating on the ball and I wasn't dropping my head, and it worked out," said Davis.

Hancock seemed to break the game open in the bottom of the fourth, scoring six runs on four hits, two walks and three West End errors for a 12-6 lead. Ean Mann's RBI double highlighted the rally.

But West End once again came back, tying the game with six runs of their own in the top of the fifth, including an RBI double by Zach Martin.

"It was a big emotional roller coaster for the kids, as we kept tying it up, but I was telling them to relax and just hit the ball and make the plays," said West End manager Bob Leatherman. "But we ended up leaving too many runners on base."

Hancock's two runs in the bottom of the fifth proved to be just enough. While West End able to manufacture one in the sixth, three straight outs ended the game.

"It was just a matter of relaxing and playing like we do every day," said Hancock manager Tony Kerns. "In our minds, it wasn't a playoff game."

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