By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
WILLIAMSPORT–The Mid-Atlantic Regional champion, whether from Pennsylvania or not, will always be a fan favorite at the Little League World Series.
The 2016 version is no different as Endwell, NY receives the loudest cheers no matter what time it plays.
The hometown fans were out in full force as Endwell defeated the Southeast 3-1 during an afternoon game at Lamade.
Ryan Harlost continued his strong start to the 2016 Little League World Series with a first-inning home run to give Endwell a 2-0 lead over the Southeast.
Harlost hit a home run and two doubles in Endwell’s opening game, a 7-2 win over New England. Harlost also went three strong in the win facing just nine batters in three innings.
Michael Mancini opened Monday’s game in complete control, earning strikeouts against five of the first six batters he faced. Tanner Jones was the lone player to make contact, but it resulted in an unassisted groundout to Jack Hopko at first base.
Mancini put a string of five consecutive strikeouts together to bridge the second and third innings. The streak came to an end in the top of the third when the Southeast opened with a groundout to shortstop.
Ryan Oden followed with a single to break up Mancini’s bid at a no-hitter. Tanner Jones added another single, but was stranded when Mancini picked up his seventh and eighth strikeouts to end the inning.
After a lead off single in the fourth, Mancini was able to record to a strikeout and a groundout to first to end the inning. He opened the fifth with a hit batter, but fanned the next three hitters to keep Endwell in front 3-0.
In the bottom half of the inning Mancini turned a lead-off walk in to a run thanks to a passed ball and wild pitch. The run extended Endwell’s lead over Tennessee to 3-0.
After hitting the first batter he faced, Southeast’s Ryan Oden retired four straight batters, including three in a row to end the fourth inning.
Despite Oden’s efforts, a home run from Harlost and Mancini’s run in the third would be enough for Endwell, which has yet to lose a game since starting the District tournament in early June.
Mid-Atlantic 3, Southeast 1
SE 000 001-1 4 1
MA 201 00X-3 3 0
Brock Duffer, Robert Carroll (3), Ryan Oden (3), and Tanner Jones. Michael Mancini, Ryan Harlost (6), and Conner Rush.
WP: Mancini. LP: Duffer.
Top Southeast hitters: Zach McWilliams 2-3, HR, run, RBI. Top Mid-Atlantic hitters: Ryan Harlost 1-3, HR, run, 2 RBI.
Records: Southeast 1-1. Mid-Atlantic 2-0.
