by PONY League
WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania – In Game #7, Puerto Rico became the first of the 10 teams in the 2017 Dick’s Sporting Goods PONY League World Series to be sent home. Day three of the Dick’s Sporting Goods PONY League World Series concluded with the second elimination game of the day between the European Zone champion, the Netherlands and the South Zone champion, Brownsville, TX.
Brownsville, fresh of its loss to Bay County, MI, a loss in which it blew two leads of 3-0 and 4-2, scored again in the first inning when right fielder Jose Banda drove in his fifth run of the tournament on an RBI single that gave Brownsville a 1-0 lead after one inning.
In the top of the second, the Netherlands managed to load the bases with one out, on a hit batter and two walks, but a strike out and unassisted putout at first base ended the threat for the Netherlands, who still trailed 1-0.
Brownsville tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the second, taking a 2-0 lead on a balk and a 4-0 lead on a two-run home run by left fielder Victor Estrada.
The Netherlands got the feeling of what it’s like to hit a home run in the Dick’s Sporting GoodsPONY League World Series when in the top of the third, Tariq Kemp hit a two-run home run,scoring Raydley Legito, to cut the deficit in half to 4-2 after two and a half innings.
Despite trimming the lead, the Netherlands couldn’t buy an out in the third and Brownsville took a five-run, 7-2 lead on a home run by third baseman Rafael Parra.
The home run was the second of the night for Brownsville and a single immediately following chased Netherland’s starter Gio de Graauw.
Aiden Brodsjo relieved de Graauw in the third and the first batter he faced doubled setting up runners on second and third with no outs. Brodsjo got Estrada to ground out for the first out, but then gave up a two RBI single to Brownsville second baseman Darren Ramirez to make the score 9-2. A double-play ended the inning for Brownsville and the lead stayed intact at 9-2 after three innings.
de Graauw’s line closed in the third inning for the Netherlands, allowing eight runs (seven earned), nine hits, a walk and a strikeout. Brownsville’s starting pitcher Jorge Lozano also was relieved after three innings, allowing two runs (both earned), three hits, three walks and struck out three.
In the top of the fifth, the Netherlands had a great opportunity to jump back into the game with runners on second and third and Brownsville reliever Michael Ramos balked to bring home Kemp, making it 9-3. Nick Boxelaar would be stranded at third and the score held at 9-3 after four and a half.
Trailing 9-3 in the top of the sixth, the Netherlands had runners on second and third yet again, but couldn’t manage a run across.
Brownsville opened the bottom of the sixth with back-to- back singles and it spelled the end of the night for Brodsjo. Danny Albinus relieved Brodsjo and struck out the first batter he faced before being taken deep to right-center field by Rafael Capistran to extend the Brownsville lead to 12-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
Brodsjo’s book closed allowing three runs (all earned), four hits, one walk and one strikeout over three-plus innings pitched.
To salvage arms, Ramos was relieved in the top of the seventh after pitching three innings, allowing one run (unearned), three hits, no walks and five strikeouts.
In the seventh, Parra got the first out and the Netherlands used an error, single and a walk to load the bases with one out. Netherlands right fielder Jesse Velders drew the second walk of the inning with one out, making it 12-4. Parra was then relived by Banda after the RBI free pass.
Banda fared much better as he left the bases loaded and struck out back-to- back batters ending the game 12-4 in favor of Brownsville.
Lozano receives the victory for Brownsville, while de Graauw is handed the loss.
With the victory, Brownsville moves on to play another elimination game tomorrow at 12:30 pm against host Washington, PA. For the Netherlands, its first trip to the Dick’s Sporting Goods PONY League World Series ends, but it fought hard it its two defeats to Washington and Brownsville.