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Elite's Three-Run 7th Seals Comeback Win Over Senators

06/21/2018, 1:00pm EDT
By Josh Belanger

June 21 - The Diamond Elite stormed back from a seven-run deficit, capped off by a three-run rally with two outs in the seventh inning to beat the Metro Senators, 9-7, last night at Westfield High School.

Down to their final out, the Elite got a pair of runners on for Nick Connolly, who delivered a game-tying RBI to right field. Josh Harbinson then supplied the go-ahead runs with a two-run double for the Elite.

“There was two strikes, so I just choked up, saw the curveball early out of his hand and just tried to put in play somewhere,” Connolly said on his game-tying hit.  

The Senators’ offense made an early statement with seven runs in the first inning, sending 12 men to the plate against Elite starter Jack Adgate. Max Henry and Bobby Leitzel each had two-run doubles as the Senators collected six of their nine total hits in the frame. Henry finished the night 3-for-3 while Leitzel had a strong night in the leadoff spot, reaching base three times.

After Henry struck out the side in the first inning for the Senators, the Elite touched him up for five runs in the second. John Heltebran and Trey Ferraro each drove in a run on base hits and Joe Vogatosky scored a pair with a single for the Elite.

Trailing 7-5 in the sixth, the Elite got a run after Carson Swank reached on an error and scored on a Colin Jones’ single. The Elite then had five straight men reach base with two outs in the seventh, scoring three runs on RBI from Connolly and Harbinson. Connolly and Harbinson went 3-for-6 with four RBI in the game.

Jacob Morgan came on in relief of Henry to start the fourth and allowed four runs (three earned) in four innings for the Senators. Henry’s final line included five runs on five hits in three innings with five strikeouts.   

Connolly, Harbinson and Vogatosky combined for six shutout innings in relief, allowing the Elite to climb back into the game. Connolly allowed two hits with two strikeouts in three innings while Vogatosky struck out three and allowed just one men to reach via an error in two innings en route to the win.

“We played six games this weekend, so it was all hands on deck,” Elite coach Sam Plank said. “They scored a lot of runs in the first inning, but it’s a seven inning game. When we have all phases going with our big arms, we are pretty tough to beat.”

The Elite will play their next PSL game against the MVP Royals National at Westfield High School on Wednesday while the Senators will face the Vipers Varsity at Westfield High School on Tuesday.


Left to Right: Nick Connolly pitched three scoreless innings and drove in two runs while Joe Vogatosky got the win after not allowing a hit in two scoreless innings. Photos by Josh Belanger.

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