Facing the Holbrook ace and with one out, Sal Garcia III crushed a fastball into the left center outfield net to
put the Elmora Youth Little League team up 5 to 4 in the top of the 6th inning. Josiah Sharpe, after a pitching change worked out a base on balls to put the EYL tying run on at first. Yadriel Mateo drove in JR Rosado with a line drive homerun later in the inning to give EYLL a 7 to 4 advantage. "Yadie" pitched the bottom of the 6th and recorded two strikeouts and a soft pop-out to SS Garcia to seal the Elmora victory.
The EYLL team got things started in the first inning with a lead-off double by Garcia. JR Rosado got
the RBI with a single that drove in Garcia for an early 1-0 nothing EYL league. JR Rosado pitching in the bottom of the inning put two runners on with a Base on Balls and then a single by
Holbrook. He came back to strike out the side and end the early threat.
The teams battled to a stalemate in the 2nd inning with EYLL leaving the bases loaded and Holbrook getting the tying run to 3rd.
In the top of the third, Justin Labrador got to first on a fielder's choice as Holbrook went to third to record the out on the lead runner. The speedy Rosado beat the throw to load the
bases. Rosado scored on a wild pitch and Yadie came in on a throwing error by the catcher. EYLL took a commanding 3-0 lead into the bottom of the 3rd.
JR Rosado walked the first two batters and Coach Labrador went to Yadriel in relief. A fielder's choice
scored the 1st run for Holbrook. A wild pitch got another run for the Section 3 champions. Yadiel recorded a strikeout to end rally and keep EYLL on top 3 to 2.
After a quick top of the 4th with the EYLL offense unable to mount a comeback, Holbrook had two on and 1 out after a double. The EYLL defense prevented the runner from scoring as RF Labrador fired a throw to the cutoff man. A two-out base on balls scored the tying run for Holbrook. The next batter was hit by the pitch to record the RBI for Holbrook and the go ahead run (4 to 3).
The 5th inning was a quick one-two-three affair as both teams were locked in a close
game. The dramatic 6th inning comeback by EYLL puts them into Championship Game on Sunday. The EYLL pitchers held Holbrook to 2 hits. Holbrook will face Section 4 champion Swedesboro in
a playoff game on Saturday. The winner will play EYLL at 7:00 PM on Sunday.
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