File:Little League 2018, Bradley Keriakos makes a throw to first.jpg

Brunswick Sports: Little League 2018

Bad bounces for Brunswick Little League

Wild pitch sinks Brunswick in sixth, will meet Montgomery Lower again Saturday in finale by Bill Cauley from the Frederick News Post, July 7, 2018

Photo caption:

Brunswick shortstop Bradley Keriakos makes a throw to first in an unsuccessful double-play attempt after forcing out Montgomery County’s Asher Friedman at second base in the second inning Friday night in Brunswick. Staff photo by Bill Green

BRUNSWICK — Montgomery County Lower has been pulling a few surprises in this year’s District 2 Little League Tournament, having beaten two pre-tournament favorites.

The Bethesda-based team ousted Frederick National 3-2 on Thursday in an elimination-round game, then took advantage of a Brunswick wild pitch on Friday for a 4-3 win.

“A couple of balls didn’t bounce our way in this one,” Brunswick manager Steve Dinges said. “It was a good game. We weren’t going to beat ourselves, they had to beat us, they did.”

Friday’s win forces an extra game to determine the district championship. That deciding game will be played at 10 a.m. Saturday in Bethesda, on MCLL’s home field.

On a lower field at the Brunswick complex on Friday, Brunswick’s 9-11 team won the district title. Behind a grand slam from Ethan Houck, Brunswick defeated Four County 9-2 to advance to the 9-11 Little League state tournament next Saturday in southern Maryland.

In district 8-10 Little League tournament play on Friday, Brunswick rallied for six runs in the top of the sixth for a 14-11 road win at MCLL, earning a rematch at 2 p.m. Saturday at unbeaten Four County, which needs just one win for the district crown.

Should an extra game be needed to determine the district champion, it would be played Sunday at Brunswick.

In the main District 2 game, Brunswick fell after rallying from a 3-0 deficit to tie the score with one out in the top of the fifth on a bases-clearing double to right field by T.J. Ault.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, MCLL’s Miles Kessler beat out an infield single, then moved to second on a passed ball. Jaden Bumbaugh grounded out to the shortstop, moving Kessler to third.

Brunswick intentionally walked Brandan Sun to try and set up a force play. Isaac Kneisler hit a grounder to shortstop. Sun was nearly forced out at second but was safe on the error, loading the bases. Kessler was held at third.

Kessler then scored the winning run on the wild pitch.

“The ball took a funny spin on that grounder to short,” Dinges said. “Then came the wild pitch.”

MCLL took a 2-0 lead in the third on singles by Kneisler and Asher Friedman. It added a run in the fourth on a double to left center by Sun.

“We were in position to score some runs, but we just couldn’t get that timely hit,” Dinges said. “We’ve got to get more runners on base next time.”

Dylan DeLawder led Brunswick with two hits.

District 2 9-11 Little League

Brunswick 9, Four County 2

In addition to Houck’s grand slam in the top of the fourth, Brunswick got a strong pitching performance from Collin Pearre, who tossed a complete game with five strikeouts.

“We had a very solid performance all the way around,” Brunswick manager Cody Bechtol said. “Ethan bats third in the order for us and really looked good. I have a lot of confidence in him.”

Jackson Dudley and Kadin Longerbeam each had two hits for Brunswick.

District 2 8-10 Little League

Brunswick 14, MCLL 11

BETHESDA — After Brunswick rallied for six runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead, it held MCLL in the bottom of the sixth.

Jason Ricketts and Zack Via each had three hits.

“We battled back in this one,” Brunswick manager Drew Hawes said.