Local Sports

Late-inning heroics push Ironmen past Mustangs

BLOOMSBURG -- Danville's Garrett Hoffman was ready in the seventh inning when Danville called on him to sub in as a pinch hitter.

It was the first time in the game Hoffman got to see action. He delivered with a lead-off double, eventually scoring from second on a sacrifice bunt.

It was enough for No. 3 Danville to down No. 2 Midd-West 3-2 in the semifinals of the District 4 Class 4A tournament. The Ironmen will advance to face No. 1 Central Columbia or No. 4 Lewisburg Saturday at Bowman Field in Williamsport.

"I was surprised when they told me to go up to the plate," Hoffman said. "Our team needs this one. I went up there and did my thing. It wasn't the greatest swing, but it did the job for us and we won."

It might not have been the best swing in Hoffman's mind, but it was enough to lift the fourth pitch of his seventh inning at bat into left field for a double. The ball was hit well enough Hoffman didn't have to slide as he got to second.

After Hoffman was able to reach second, Danville called for a bunt from Connor Kozick, who put down a nearly perfect effort to advance the runner. As Midd-West's catcher fielded the bunt, Hoffman noticed the opening at home and took a chance.

"There third baseman was away from the bag and I looked down at home and nobody was there," Hoffman said. "When I saw the pitcher and catcher standing by the mound, I decided to go for it. I went for it and I made it."

Hoffman broke for home, but Midd-West quickly realized his intentions and made the same move. Hoffman stumbled as he got within a few of the plate, but still slid home with the game-winning run.

"I almost tripped at one point," Hoffman said. "I pushed myself to get myself there and I made it. It felt amazing. Everybody was surprised and felt happy. It was great."

Danville was in position to win the game after a big sixth inning highlighted by an RBI single from Gabe Benjamin.

The Ironmen stranded three in the second and one more in the fifth before they made their move in the sixth. Reese McCarthy reached on a walk and Joey Delbo advanced him with a single.

The game wasn't without controversy as the opening run scored on a balk call. Delbo gave the Ironmen a two-run lead when he reached home off Benjamin's single.

"We knew that Midd-West was a talented team and they had arms," Danville coach Devin Knorr said. "We kind of hoped we would just hang around. We knew we needed to pitch well and stay in the zone."

Lane Berkey and Mason Raup pitched more than well. The duo combined to scatter four hits and toss six shutout winnings throughout the matchup.

Berkey retired the side in the first and second innings, ending both frames with strikeouts. Berkey faced three batters over the limit through the first five innings before being pulled in the sixth.

"Lane Berkey was outstanding, he threw a gem," Knorr said. "He kept them off-balance and our defense was outstanding."

Raup entered in the sixth after Midd-West put a runner into scoring position off a double from Caden Wolfley. A run scored off a ground ball to third and another came in off a slow roller back to Raup.

"These guys kid themselves and always say they can turn on a switch," Midd-West coach Scott Wright said. "That's what they did in the sixth. It took that kind of attitude to turn it around."

Wolfely finished with seven strikeouts in six innings of work. He gave up the two runs in the sixth, but kept Danville off the board in all five of his other innings.

"He was outstanding," Wright said. "Any of my pitchers I throw out there I have 100 percent faith in them. They've been awesome all year long."

No. 3 Danville 3, No. 2 Midd-West 2

DAN 000 002 1--3 4 0

MW 000 002 0--2 4 1

Lane Berkey, Mason Raup (6), and Jack Gibson. Caden Wolfely, Garrett Leitzle (7), and Preston Arbogast.

WP: Raup. LP: Leitzle.

Top Danville hitters: Joey Delbo 2-3, run; Garrett Hoffman 1-1, 2B, run. Top Midd-West hitters: Caden Wolfley 1-3, 2B, run.

Records: Danville 11-8. Midd-West 14-7.