In a game not decided until the final inning, South Salem 12U fell to Mid-Atlantic Champion Springfield, Pennsylvania 5-4 at the Cal Ripken World Series in Branson, Missouri on Thursday.
The Saxons fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, after an RBI double by Owen Lockhart—and the visiting Blue Sox never trailed after that.
Saxon starting pitcher Sam Mosar lasted 1 1/3rd innings, giving up three runs while striking out two. Kellen Bowman struck out seven with no walks in relief for South Salem.
For Pennsylvania, starting pitcher Sean Flynn was masterful, scattering three runs on seven hits over 5 2/3rdinnings.
Both teams committed two errors during the game, resulting in one run for each side.
Offensively, the Saxons did eventually generate runs. Wyatt Timmerman drove in a run in the fourth, pushing across Sam Mosar. Mosar finished the game 2-3 with a double. Another run in the inning came on a Blue Sox error. South trailed at that point 3-2.
Springfield added two runs in the top of the fifth inning, but the Saxons responded in kind in the bottom of the frame.
South’s Kellen Bowman had a key two-run double, scoring Jaxon Birt and Issac Erwin. That drew the Saxons close at 5-4 , but they couldn’t get over the hump in the final frame.
After holding Pennsylvania scoreless in the top of the sixth, South had Blue Sox hurler Sean Flynn in a tight spot, as he had just three pitches left under established game limits.
South’s Ben Otjen got a base hit on the second pitch thrown by Flynn in the inning. But Otjen’s pinch runner—Corwin Sidwell—was picked off at first by Flynn for the first out. Flynn was then allowed to finish pitching to the next batter—and he proceeded to strike out Wyatt Timmerman for out number two. That forced Springfield to change pitchers. On came Landon Ragan. Jimmy Ordaz, Jr. promptly singled to give South Salem the tying run at first.
With Cody Scharer at the plate, Ordaz attempted to steal second, but was gunned down by Atlantic catcher Mason Ellis. Out number three—game over.
Manager Mike Sidwell was philosophical about the final game and the World Series experience.
“It was a tough loss. The boys battled to the end and it was a great run.”
A great run indeed.
STATISTICAL NOTE: For the tournament, Sam Mosar and Kellen Bowman were the top performers at the plate for the Saxons, batting .500. Mosar was 8 for 16 for the tournament with 2 RBIs, while Bowman was 5 for 10 with 5 RBIs, 6 walks, and a home run (3 runs).
Editor’s note: thanks to South parent Vance Bowman for his assistance in the writing of this story.