Aug 11, 2015 7 min read

The rematch between Hagerstown, Md., and Mazatlan, Mexico was just as thrilling as their first meeting in the Pony League World Series.

For the second time in four days, Hagerstown got the best of Mazatlan, 4-2, in Tuesday’s elimination game to set up an all-United States Division Final against San Bernardino, Calif.

“We are very excited,” Hagerstown manager Dave Barr said. “Mexico is always going to be good in the world series. Our kids found a way to hang tough and stay the course. We had great pitching from Adam Mathias.”

Mathias pitched six innings, allowed two runs and struck out four.

Hagerstown had the first good scoring chance in the top of the second inning when No. 9 hitter Spencer McNamee lifted a pitch to deep centerfield with two on and two out. But a leaping grab by Rodrigo Garate ended the threat.

Mazatlan took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single by Javier Montano.

Mazatlan starter Rafael Zamudio stifled the Hagerstown bats for the first three innings, but allowed three runs – all unearned – in the top of the fourth.

The East Zone Champions loaded the bases with no outs on an error and two infield singles. Hagerstown tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Seamus Murray and almost lost an opportunity to take the lead when the next batter popped up to second.

But an error by the shortstop was followed by a two-out, two-run bloop single by Chase McCoy to give Hagerstown a 3-1 lead.

“He is a battler,” Barr said. “We know he is usually going to make contact against fastballs and it was a big hit for us.”

After taking the lead, Mathias pitched out of trouble. With a runner on second, Zamudio knocked a single into left field but a bad jump by the baserunner Miguel Ojeda only allowed him to get to third. Mathias would get out of the jam by inducing a grounder to shortstop.

From there, Mathias retired the side in order in the fifth and sixth innings.

“I felt comfortable,” Mathias said. “My team started to feel more confident and were making all the plays behind me.”

Brock Penn gave Hagerstown a 4-1 lead with a leadoff home run to left field.

“Brock is just a quality hitter,” Barr said. “He had the right approach and hammered it.”

After retiring seven straight, Mathias allowed a leadoff double to Diego Jasso in the seventh. Jasso eventually scored but Garrett Hose came in to get the save. He also led the offense, going 3-for-4. McCoy also had a big day at the plate with the two-run single among his two hits. Mathias went 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Miguel Ojeda led Mazatlan’s offense, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 11, Bay County, Michigan 1, 5 inn.: Through the first three games of the Pony League World Series, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico had the most prolific offense with 33 runs scored.

The last thing Mayaguez needed was help from its opponents but that’s exactly what it received in the first two innings of its 11-1 elimination game win in five innings against Bay County, Mich., at Lew Hays Pony Field.

The Caribbean Zone champions advanced to play Chinese Taipei in the Division Finals last night.

“We had momentum from our last game,” Mayaguez manager Juan Pitre said through an interpreter. “The players are doing a better job at the beginning of the game.”

Bay County committed three errors in the first and second innings while Mayaguez built a 7-0 lead.

In the first inning, Mayaguez loaded the bases and scored on an error by third baseman Garrett Glyse. More of the same occurred in the second inning with three more errors. The Caribbean Zone champions sent nine batters to the plate and the big hit came on an RBI double from Gabriel Rivera.

Mayaguez’s offensive onslaught chased Bay County pitcher Evan Schlatter from the game. Schlatter didn’t have a bad outing, but was hurt by the six errors in the first two innings.

“We aren’t going to beat a team when we have five errors and two hits,” Bay County manager Dan Revette said. “It’s not going to happen.”

The North Zone champions got a run in the top of the fourth on a throwing error by Mayaguez third baseman Kenen Irizarry. Ben Van Sumeren came around to score from first on the play.

Mayaguez ended the game with a walkoff grand slam by Erick Rivera in the fifth inning.

“That was very exciting,” Pitre said. “He is a good batter but we don’t always expect that from him.”

Puerto Rico’s pitching has been just as strong as the offense, allowing seven runs in three wins. Dylan Gonzales picked up the win, going three innings, allowing two hits and striking out five.

“We are working very hard with our pitchers in Puerto Rico,” Pitre said. “We have plenty of confidence in every pitcher that we have.”

Bay County finished the tournament with a 1-2 record, losing to Chinese Taipei and Puerto Rico.

“These kids realize that travel ball is nothing compared to this,” Revette said. “They have seen pitching that they have never seen before. They pitched the ball very well. We have to get tougher and better.”