POTOMAC PARK — Pitching and defense have been the hallmarks of Grantsville SAL this summer, and it lifted them to a championship.
Landon Yoder threw a complete-game no-hitter, Grantsville played spotless defense and it plated five runs in the seventh inning to upend Riverside Sports, 6-1, in Game 2 of the Hot Stove Senior Division championship series Wednesday.
The victory clinched the series for Grantsville after it defeated Riverside, 5-2, the day prior. It also ensured an unbeaten 16-0 season.
“We were very focused, committed to making this a priority for our kids,” Grantsville manager Jimmy Yoder said. “Family vacations are planned in the next couple weeks, mine included. They did an excellent job of staying focused all year. It’s very hard to go undefeated in anything.”
Grantsville pitching combined to allow just one base hit over 13 2/3 innings in the series with 21 strikeouts. Its defense committed just one error.
Pitching was again the theme Wednesday with the teams knotted at 1-1 entering the final inning of regulation.
Bailey Turner led off the seventh with a single, and Riverside went to the bullpen with one out. Its reliever walked the first two batters he faced to load the bases.
With the infield pulled in, Cole Folk delivered a soft grounder to the left side just out of the reach of the diving third baseman, and two runs scored to make it 3-1 Grantsville.
Insurance runs tacked on by an error on a Dawson Tice hit, a Robert Deatelhauser infield single and a Turner hit by pitch with the bases loaded pushed the margin to 6-1.
Landon Yoder then struck out the side in the bottom half to give Grantsville the championship.
“Landon pitched a great game for them,” Riverside manager Eric O’Neil said. “They manufactured a run early, we got a run back. Kept it close in the next inning, but our pitcher ran out of gas.
“We didn’t have enough hits. We’re used to hitting. Two nights in a row, the bats went silent.”
Yoder earned the win allowing a run on no hits with nine strikeouts and five walks in seven innings of work.
Riverside scored its lone run in the sixth via a Landyn Ansel sacrifice fly.
Grantsville scored first in the fifth when Aadin Tice slotted an RBI single into right field.
The contest also featured standout defensive plays by middle infielders on both squads.
In the fourth inning, Ansel, the Riverside second baseman, made a leaping stab on a Turner line drive that seemed destined for center field. Ansel then turned and fired a ball to first base for the double play.
An inning later, Grantsville’s shortstop Folk extended for a sliding stop to his left up the middle, and he made a throw from his knees across the diamond to rob Coye Resh of a base hit.
Peyton Durst was dealt a no decision for Riverside, allowing two runs on six hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 6 1/3 innings pitched. Trevin Cox took the loss in relief, and Resh also pitched.
Leading Grantsville at the plate were Tice going 2 for 3 with an RBI, Folk 2 for 4 with two RBIs, Turner ending 2 for 3 with an RBI and Yoder with two runs scored.
Due to a team backing out of the playoffs, Grantsville didn’t play a semifinal series last week. Coach Yoder said the time off proved beneficial as it allowed for more practice.
“Last week we didn’t have a playoff series, but that was okay because we had two very difficult practices,” he said. “These guys, they get all the credit. They love playing for each other.”
Grantsville also holds the distinction as the first Senior Division champion in the league’s maiden iteration.
Both coaches hope the 15-17-year-old division continues to grow next season.
“With seven teams, it’s a good start. I think we can build from that,” O’Neil said. “Hopefully we can get Mineral County and Pennsylvania teams to come into it.”