Hollidaysburg knocks out New York, survives to play another day

Hollidaysburg, Pa.’s Chase Link rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run off Massapequa, N.Y.’s Joey Lionetti during the third inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

By Chris Masse

cmasse@sungazette.com

WILLIAMSPORT — The more pressure it faces, the better Hollidaysburg plays.

The gutsy, deep and versatile Mid-Atlantic champions proved it yet again Monday at Lamade Stadium, erasing a one-run, third-inning deficit and rolling to a 7-1 win while continuing its historic season.

Hollidaysburg scored seven runs in the third and fourth innings. Aspen Anderson excelled in a pressure spot again, and Hollidaysburg earned a spot in today’s elimination game against Indiana, which lost to Tennessee.

That game is scheduled to be played at 3 p.m. on ESPN. Tennessee also endured a long rain delay on Monday before beating Indiana, 5-2.

Hollidaysburg is now 9-0 in elimination games this season, won its second straight one at the LLWS and is guaranteed a top six finish in the U.S. field.

A win in its next game would send Hollidaysburg to the U.S. Final 4.

“They get excited to get back out there between the lines and play for each other and know the situation isn’t bigger than they’ve practiced for and prepared for. They love the moment,” Hollidaysburg manager Jim McGough said. “We talked about it for months now about being prepared for the moment and to want the moment. When they step in between those lines you can see it in their eyes. They want the moment, they want to play for each other. To see them deliver time and time again in the moment is awesome. It’s something they’ll take with them for the rest of their lives.”

Monday’s win mirrored Saturday’s thriller against Massachusetts in some ways.

Every player contributed. Chase Link hit a game-changing home run, Anderson pitched brilliantly in big spots and the defense shined.

“You’ve heard me say it time and time again, one team together; 11 strong and when everyone is firing on all cylinders, great things happen,” McGough said. “You see those smiles back, which is awesome.”

Those smiles were huge in the third inning.

Link’s three-run, third-inning home run put Hollidaysburg ahead to stay, 3-1 and, following a 72-minute rain delay, his two-run single made it 5-1 an inning later.

Caleb Detrick capped that burst with a two-run double to deep center field.

Link finished 2-for-4 with five RBIs. Over his last two games, he has driven in six runs. Detrick was terrific hitting behind Link, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

As he did against Massachusetts, Link again changed the game’s complexion with one swing.

Anderson and Tyler McGough led off the inning with singles before Link tattooed an 0-1 pitch beyond both fences and onto the big hill beyond center field.

From that point on, it was all Hollidaysburg.

“It was amazing being able to take the lead up by two,” Link said. “I knew it started a spark for the team to score some runs.”

As impressive as that four-run, fourth inning was how Hollidaysburg did it.

The inning’s first two batters were retired before the next five reached base. Highlighting the team’s depth, pinch-hitter Nate Phillips ignited the rally with a single before Anderson reached on an error. McGough then walked to load the bases before it began pouring.

Link had 72 minutes to collect his thoughts before the game resumed and continued his torrid hitting when he turned on an 0-1 pitch and ripped it into left field. Detrick blasted his two-run double over the center fielder’s head on the next pitch, and the rout was on.

“I was just sitting there being able to focus,” Link said. “Because we were in here with the team, I was just waiting for us to get some energy and be able to go back on the field with energy and being able to play.”

That energy was felt not just throughout the dugout, but on the field and in the stands. Once the jolt was provided, New York could not cut off the power supply.

“They did a great job. We got those 72 minutes to talk about a lot of things, talk about our experiences and be ready to go when we go back out there,” McGough said. “They didn’t miss a beat. It was exciting to see our leaders step up and make sure everybody was engaged and ready to step back out there and keep that momentum, keep that fire going.”

New York took a 1-0 second-inning lead courtesy of a Ryan Huksloot leadoff double and two-out throwing error, but starter Brody Dull and Anderson were pretty fantastic. Dull threw 2.2 quality innings before hitting two straight batters in the third as New York loaded the bases with two outs.

Jim McGough called upon Anderson and Hollidayburg’s fireman put out yet another fire. A pitcher who has repeatedly excelled in situations like these owned the moment again.

Two days after he stranded the go-ahead runners on base with one out, Anderson left the bases loaded by striking out Michael Clark on four pitches to preserve the 3-1 lead.

Hollidaysburg built on the momentum with its four-run fourth and Anderson dominated in relief.

Anderson stranded two more runners in the fourth inning before retiring the last seven batters he faced. The crafty right-hander struck out four and threw 3.1 innings of shutout ball, letting just one hit leave the infield.

“Heck yeah (I want the ball),” Anderson said. “I was ready to strike some people out.”

Seven different Hollidaysburg players produced 10 hits as Hollidaysburg’s offense continued heating up. After losing 8-3 in the opener against Texas, Hollidaysburg has scored 14 runs and pounded out 19 hits.

MID-ATLANTIC (7): McGough ss 321, Link 3b 422, Detrick rf 403, Hatch c 401, Rabel 2b 400, Dively lf 100, Boob lf 200, Metzger 1b 301, Dull p 100, Phillips cf 111, Anderson cf-p 221. Totals — 29-7-10.

METRO (1): Bekiers ss-p-ss 101, Lionetti p-1b-3b-1b 300, Pagano 1b-rf-1b-rf 300, Castellano rf-cf-rf-cf 200, Huksloot c 211, Clark 3b-ss-3b 300, St. George lf 200, Mininni lf-3b 100, Fregara cf 201, Hanley rf-lf-p 101, Badagliacca 2b 200. Totals — 22-1-4.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Mid-Atlantic 003 400–7 10 2

Metro 010 000–1 4 2

LOB–Mid-Atlantic 7, Metro 7. 2B–Detrick, Huksloot. HR–Link. RBI–Link 5, Detrick 2. SAC–Phillips. HBP–Castellano (by Dull), Huksloot (by Dull). WP–Anderson. LP–Lionetti. SO–Dull 3, Anderson 4, Lionetti 5, Bekiers 3. BB–Dull 2, Lionetti 1, Bekiers 1.