Plum Junior Legion loses but stays alive in double-elimination state tournament

The Boyertown Grizzlies scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to pick up a 5-4 walk-off victory over Plum Post 980 in a first-round game Saturday at the PA Youth Legion Baseball State Championship in Homer City.

Plum (22-6-1) still is alive in the double-elimination tournament and will return to the field Sunday for a 10 a.m. contest.

The Junior Mustangs were in the same situation last weekend at the Western Regional tournament. After losing the first game, Plum responded with three straight victories to clinch a spot at states.

Plum’s Sunday opponent is Lower Macungie, which fell to Uniontown, 4-2, on Saturday. Uniontown advances in the winners’ bracket and will face Boyertown on Sunday at 4 p.m.

“It’s baseball. The game is a grind,” Plum manager Bill Rumcik said. “You take the good with the bad and persevere. Good teams always find a way to bounce back. I told them I expect to rebound and make it to the championship game Wednesday.”

Only two of Boyertown’s five runs Saturday were earned as the Junior Mustangs defense committed four errors.

Plum finished with a 10-7 advantage in hits.

The score was tied 2-2 after two innings before Boyertown took a 4-2 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth.

The Junior Mustangs rallied with two runs to tie the score in the top of the seventh.

Boyertown loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh on a single and two walks — one intentional — before a single ended the contest.

Eight players accounted for Plum’s 10 hits. Nick Chirumbolo and Frankie Macioce led the way with two hits apiece. Macioce, Brady Dojonovic, Anthony Carlisano and Silvio Ionadi drove in runs for the Junior Mustangs.

Dojonovic took the loss in relief.