CLARION-LIMESTONE 9, A-C VALLEY 8, 9 INNINGS

May 20, 2008 - District 9 Class A Baseball Playoffs First Round at C-L

STRATTANVILLE – J.P. Pezzuti’s two-out single to leftfield in the bottom of the ninth inning capped a thrilling come-from-behind 9-8 victory for Clarion-Limestone over A-C Valley in the opening round of the District 9 Class A baseball playoffs Tuesday afternoon at C-L.

Pezzuti’s big hit came after A-C Valley intentionally walked Ben Stewart to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth after a wild pitch had given the Lions runners at second and third with two outs.

C-L had to come from behind three different times in the game including twice in what would have been its last at-bat.

A-C Valley, which led 5-0 early only to see C-L tie the game at five with a run in the bottom of the sixth, took a 7-5 lead in the seventh on a two-out double by Nick McGuirk.

But the Lions rallied in the bottom of the seventh making it 7-6 on an error and then tying the game at seven on a one-out sacrifice fly by Glenn Stewart to force extra innings.

The Falcons answered back in the top of the eighth taking an 8-7 lead with a one-out triple and a sacrifice fly.

But Jace Rhoads’ two-out single in the bottom of the eighth scored Eric Hesdon tying the game at eight.

A-C Valley took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out, two-run double by Blayne McGuirk before adding a third run in the top of the second and two more in the third to go ahead 5-0.

C-L started its comeback with four runs in the fifth to cut the lead to 5-4. The Lions then tied the game in bottom of the sixth on a two-out single by Ben Stewart that scored his brother Glenn Stewart.    

Grant Romig had three hits for C-L, while Ben Stewart had two.

Kyle Simpson got the win for the Lions going seven innings in relief.

Jesse Mangel and Nick McGuirk had three hits each for A-C Valley, while Blayne McGuirk had three RBIs.

Mangel took the loss going 8 2/3 innings and allowing the nine runs. He had six strikeouts.

Seventh-seeded C-L will now take on second-seeded Cameron County at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Cameron County.