The Jackson Holbrook Little League baseball team suffered its first loss this summer in controversial fashion.
The Jackson Holbrook Little League 12U baseball team suffered its first loss this summer in controversial fashion in the opening round of the Metro Region tournament, where the tournament winner will head to the World Series.
In extra innings down a run, Jackson's Dominick Calise was caught in a rundown attempting to steal second base and slid safely head first - illegal in Little League - while Tyler Ballard scored from third. After the umpires congregated, the run was waved off and Fairfield Little League (Connecticut) won 2-1.
Jackson, which had been 14-0, will try to survive in an elimination game Sunday at 7 p.m.
For Fairfield, SJ Taxiltaridis brought in the winning run with a triple to center field in the top of the seventh inning. He also closed out the game on the mound. Fairfield's ace pitcher Luca Pellegrini finished the game with 85 pitches and 6 strikeouts through five and half innings.
Jackson struggled on offense with its first hit coming in the fifth inning by Calise. That same inning is when Gavin Hobbs got Jackson's only run, scoring on an error throw to second base by Fairfield. Jackson also had a chance in the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded, no outs, but couldn't find the score they needed to break the 1-1 tie.
Ballard as the starting pitcher was stellar on the mound, only allowing one run. He finished with 67 pitches and 9 strikeouts. Ryan Blackburn and Calise also pitched on the mound and got timely strikeouts when called upon.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ champ Jackson Holbrook LL baseball loses to Fairfield, Connecticut
Category: General Sports
