Greencastle has certainly looked the part so far.
And, if anyone is to stop the Section 7 champions from winning the Pennsylvania Little League Baseball state championship, they’ll have to beat them twice.
Greencastle eased its way into the state finals Saturday with a 13-2 victory over Keystone in five innings at Pitt-Bradford. The win moved Greencastle’s tournament record to 3-0, and as the only undefeated team remaining, they’ll have two opportunities to book their trip to the Eastern Regional.
“They came out hot again (Saturday),” Greencastle manager Jason Rakaczewski said. “We’re taking a lot of extra batting practice and the kids are seeing the ball well right now. All 13 had good swings and the guys off the bench came up big again.”
Greencastle won its first tournament game in a 3-0 pitcher’s duel over Back Mountain before breaking out for 11 hits in a 12-0 victory over Southern Lehigh. Those wins brought Greencastle to the winners’ bracket final, where another 13 hits powered a runaway victory.
Greencastle jumped on Keystone with five runs in the top of the first, using an RBI single by Connor Flohr, a two-run double by Quinton Carr and RBI single by Spencer Long to build a lead. From there, the Section 7 champs led the whole way, as Flohr turned in a complete game on the mound.
Flohr allowed five hits in five innings while striking out seven batters. His offense provided him with plenty of additional support, as well, adding another five runs in the third inning.
Bradyn Knable’s two-run home run started the inning after a single by Carr, and from there, Greencastle continued to pour it on. With three runs in the top of the fifth, Flohr had a sufficient lead to work with, and shut the door on Keystone to seal Greencastle’s second run rule-shortened victory of the tournament.
Carr finished with three hits, two RBI and three runs scored to lead Greencastle. Flohr and Jex McDowell each had two hits and two RBI, while Cole Burkholder had a hit and drove in a run.
Greencastle now awaits Hollidaysburg in the state championship game Monday, and will enter the evening with a mathematical advantage. Hollidaysburg — with its 4-1 tournament record in a double-elimination format — will need to beat Greencastle twice to win the state championship, while Greencastle will only need one victory.
Plus, excluding Flohr, Greencastle will have its entire pitching staff available, providing the flexibility that comes with having played just three games.
Greencastle will likely turn to Cam Rakaczewski to pitch Monday. The right-handed ace has been unavailable since Wednesday, when he struck out 11 batters in a five-hit shutout of Back Mountain.
“Our pitching is fully loaded and I like our odds going in with (Cam),” Jason Rakaczewski said. “The team kind of feeds off of him, and when they see him on the mound, it gives them the extra boost of knowing we have as good a chance as anyone to win the game.”
Monday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. from UPB’s Kessel Athletic Complex. If Hollidaysburg wins Game 1, a second, winner-take-all game will follow at 6:30 p.m.
“The boys can handle pressure because they’re prepared,” Jason Rakaczewski said. “My assistant coaches have done a great job working with the boys from top to bottom and preparing them for this time.”
