Homer City Post 493 and Young Township battled to the end last night – literally – in the opening game of the District 31 Senior Legion playoffs, with the Bearcats prevailing, 9-8.
As in both games in Monday’s doubleheader split that ended the regular season, Homer City took a big lead but Young Township fought back late. Leading 9-2 after five, Post 493 withstood a rally that saw YT score three runs in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh. The Renegades were pushing to the final out, with the Bearcats’ Drew Fisher throwing out the tying run at the plate from center field for the second out in the seventh, and then Matthew Stone induced a popup to shortstop to end the game.
Brock Lewis had three hits, two of them doubles, and drove in two runs, Braden Bonatch had a double and single and drove in four runs, and Stone and Chase Shoup each had two hits for Post 493. For Young Township, Ben McConnell had four hits, and Luke McCullough had three, including a home run.
Connor James earned the win and Stone got the save.
Game Two of the best-of-three series is tonight at 5:30 at Young Township.
In the other District 31 game last night, Bushy Run held off a rally by Plum for a 5-4 win. Plum almost tied the game on the final play, with a runner thrown out at the pate on an outfield relay throw.
