In a game that had a little bit of everything and lasted three hours and 20 minutes, it seemed the team that batted last would win.
Unfortunately for Post 151 that was not the case.
Multiple players produced standout performances but it was Milford’s Matt Pedroli who was the hero as he broke the game open in the eighth inning with a two-run double and had five runs batted in on the night to help propel Post 59 to the Zone 4 title with a thrilling 11-8 victory over Post 151 in front of a packed house at McLaughlin Park.
For the Orange Crush, it was again Mark Garner who jump-started the offense in the bottom of the third. His lone hit of the night was a big one, a two-run homer over the right field fence. Danny Frade added a two-run single in the inning to help the Orange Crush knot the game at 4-4.
Post 59 responded in the top of the fourth as it plated a pair to regain the lead at 6-4. In the bottom of the fifth, Garner walked and later scored on a wild pitch to make the score 6-5. The Orange Crush scored their second run of the game on another wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.
After the visitors scored four in the top of the eighth, Post 151 didn’t go away easily. Sawyer Corbin led off the inning with a double to right-center. Brendan Mariani drove in Corbin with two outs, but that’s all the Orange Crush could muster.
Post 151 starter Danny Nelson struck out five in just three innings. Austin Gibbons and Will Urda both pitched well in relief.
Post 151 will now play in the state tournament at Milford starting on Saturday.
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