The Guilford Patriots stopped North Alleghany on Sunday afternoon up in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania 6-2 to move within one game of going to Puerto Rico for the Palomino World Series. The Patriots were down 2-1 headed into the top of the seventh inning and they forced across the tying run, then game went to extra innings where the Patriots knotched the victory behind Nick Lanning and Ryan Sprinkle.
With the game tied at 2-2 in the 8th Lanning drew a bases loaded walk to force in the wining run and then Sprinkle hit a two-run double to put the game away. Lanning the game-winning RBI and Sprinkle, who I believe is also Northwest Guilford’s punter and kicker, Ryan smashed the big blow double to put North Alleghany in the loser’s circle.
Michael Wright pitched like a champ going six innings and allowing only 2 runs, but Jody Calloway got the win in relief giving up no runs and throwing his usual heavy heat from the mound. Calloway has done a fine job of finding his control as this season has moved on.
The Patriots are now 30-7 with the win and they will face the Dix Hill-North Alleghany winner for the title Monday night 6pm at the Wexford High School in Steeltown. Sunday afternoon’s game had to moved from Wexford because of rain which resulted in poor field conditions and the Sunday game ended up being delayed 3 hours because of the rain storm.
The Patriots only need to win one game and they are back in the World Series and will be headed to Puerto Rico on Wednesday. If the Patriots were to lose the 6pm game on Monday then a game two would have to played becasue the Patriots have yet to lose in the double-elimination tournament.
Justin Smith tells me even though the Patriots defeated Dix Hill 12-2 on Saturday, he thinks Dix Hill out of Queens, New York is the better team when you compare them to North Alleghany. Good Luck to the Patriots and we hope to see them on a plane flying toward Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning.