In a game, which on paper, should have been an easy win for Batavia’s 12-year-old Little League All Stars vs. Dansville, it turned out to be a very exciting comeback-from-behind victory.
Batavia started the game poorly, throwing 3 pitchers with a combined 80 pitches to get out of the first inning, as the scoreboard read, Dansville up 7-0.
Batavia bounced back with 4 runs to reduce the deficit. Dansville came back with 4 more runs, making it 11-4 after 3 innings in wet weather conditions. Batavia was flat, as Dansville had a commanding lead.
But CJ Suozzi provided the spark for Batavia’s comeback. Suozzi hit a laser over the left center field fence with Greg Mruczek and Dakota Swimline on base. The ball ended up
in the street lined outfield at Dansville’s LL Stadium.
This was Suozzi’s 3rd homer in the District Tournament. Batavia went on to score 3
more runs in the 4th inning making the score 11-10.
In the bottom of the 5th, Suozzi led off the inning with a double. The umpire stopped the game for a rain delay. After 30 minutes the game resumed as darkness was fast approaching.
Tyler Prospero walked. A wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position. Josh Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Suozzi and moving Prospero to third. A hot batting Trevor Sherwood (4 for 4), hit in Prospero for Batavia to take its first lead of the game!
Prospero came in relief in the 3rd inning and pitched masterfully (8 strikeouts) to get the win for Batavia, especially in the final inning when the playing conditions were wet and dark.
Batavia was led by great hitting from Sherwood, Suozzi, Nate Goodwin, Jarret Lasket and Mruczek.
Batavia now advances to the District 3 Championship game at Geneseo tomorrow at 6 p.m. (Thursday, July 15).
This information was submitted by a reader.
