BABE RUTH: Plunkett's clutch hit sends…
BABE RUTH: Plunkett's clutch hit sends Nottingham 13s into second round at Middle Atlantic Regional
For The Trentonian/ File Photo/ JOHN BLAINE Gabe Santin is part of the Nottingham 13s squad which clinched a berth in the second round of the Middle Atlantic Regional.
PUBLISHED: August 4, 2014 at 1:03 p.m. | UPDATED: August 28, 2021 at 3:57 p.m.
SOMERS POINT – It was the situation every kid dreams about growing up.
Two on, two outs in the last inning and you walk to the plate.
It became a reality for Brady Plunkett, and just like in the dream, he delivered.
Plunkett's single to left field brought Anthony Spadaccini home to give the Nottingham 13s a thrilling 3-2 victory in a must-win game in the Babe Ruth League Middle Atlantic Regional being played at Fehrle Field in Somers Point.
The dramatic win gives the Hamilton Square Gang a 2-2 record in pool play and coupled with Atlantic Shore's win over Valley it locks up a berth in the second round. They will play the Pool B second place team in the second round.
The playoff game will be broadcast by WBCB on 107.7 and 1077thebronc.com on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Atlantic City's Sandcastle.
But before it could think about one tiebreaker, Nottingham needed to break the 2-2 tie with Sorensco (0-3) in the seventh.
'I hit the pitcher hard the two times before,' said Plunkett. 'I got an off-speed pitch and it came right over the plate. I tried to go to left field with it and that's what happened. It was fun and a great feeling.'
Nottingham got six solid innings from Gehrig Rios on the mound and Ryan Schwager pitched out of trouble in the top of the seventh.
'I was a little nervous because this was a make or break game,' said Rios. 'After the first inning I felt pretty good. Even though I let in two runs I thought I threw pretty well and the offense came through.'
Sorensco scored first in the fifth to take a 1-0 lead and Nottingham answered in the home half.
Gabe Santin reached on an error, was sacrificed to second and scored on Rios' ground out.
The kids from Hamilton Square had to answer again in the sixth when Sorensco took a 2-1 lead. It could've been worse, but Nottingham cut down a pair of runners at the plate.
Jake Muller evened the score in the home sixth with his second home run of the tournament. Muller's blast long drive over the 309 sign in left field.
'I got a good pitch and it was nice to get it in a tight game like this,' said Muller. 'This team was 0-2 and I think we might have taken them too lightly. Now, we have to win the next one.'
Sorensco (0-3) 000 011 0 – 2Nottingham (2-2) 000 011 1 – 3
WP: Schwager. LP: Ostiguy2B: N: Muller. HR: N: Muller. RBI: S: Blydenbaugh, O'Keefe. N: Muller, Plunkett.