LITCHFIELD - The Litchfield Dragons’ season came to an end on Thursday in a nail-biting 5-4 loss to Norwood Young America in the first round of the Section 5AA-West playoffs.
The Raiders started hot with a leadoff home run from Carter Clemensen.
“It was the next couple of guys that really got me nervous,” Dragon coach Jeff Wollin said. “You have to give it to them, though; they put good swings on the ball. I guess it was a sign of things to come.”
The Raiders totaled 11 hits on the day but the damage was limited by Litchfield starting pitcher Stan Ridgeway who allowed two earned runs.
Wollin said the turning point in the game was a bunt by NYA’s Hunter Rickaby. The Raiders scored two runs after an errant throw on the play in the third inning.
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The Dragons began to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh when a few fielding errors allowed runners to advance, but Norwood Young America’s Zach Stockman was able to hold on for his complete-game victory.
“That’s the tough part about single elimination,” Wollin said. “You get one game and both teams played well. They just played one run better. It was a sudden, harsh way to end the season.”
Luke Schultz, Tyler Sangren and Jake Jones had two hits apiece for Litchfield. Schultz and Jones both doubled, while Schultz scored twice and Jones had two RBIs.
Norwood Young America 5, Litchfield 4
Norwood YA 103 100 0 - 5 11 3
Litchfield 100 020 1 - 4 10 2
HITTING – Norwood Young America: Carter Clemensen 2-5 hr rbi r, Brice Panning 4-4 2b-2 r, Zach Stockman 2-4 2b rbi-2 … Litchfield: Luke Schultz 2-3 2b r-2, Tyler Sangren 2-4 r, Carson Deal 1-4 rbi, Jake Jones 2-4 2b rbi-2 r, Stan Ridgeway 1-4, Sam Tibbits 1-4, Andrew Loch 1-3
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Norwood Young America: Stockman (W) 7-10-4-2-1-3 … Litchfield: Ridgeway (L) 5.1-10-5-2-2-5, Derek Fruetel 1.2-1-0-0-1-0
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