Senior LL title eludes Cape grasp
The week-long saga between Cape Coral and Buckingham in the District 9 Senior Little League Baseball All-Star championship series, ended Thursday night with one swing of the bat.
Tyler Greenwell launched his second home run of the game to left field in the bottom of the seventh, lifting Buckingham to a 5-4 victory.
They captured the district title by winning the final two games of the three-game series at Fleishman Park.
Greenwell smashed a two-run shot approximately 340 feet to left in the fifth, which put Buckingham up 4-2. His walk-off home run had some doubt, just clearing the left-field fence.
“That one was more important,” said Greenwell, a nephew of former Major League player Mike Greenwell.
Buckingham rallied in the series after Cape Coral won the opening game 9-3 Monday night.
Cape went 3-0 during pool play, which also included a 12-9 victory over Buckingham.
In all, the teams played four times in a span of five days.
“It was a great series, great competition,” Cape manager Chad Wise said. “I think maybe we were trying too hard. In the sixth inning, I put them in a huddle and said, ‘guys just have some fun.'”
Cape trailed 4-2 entering the top of the seventh, but managed to score two runs to tie it.
Kelly Curran started the rally with a one-out single and the next batter, Steve Nason, drove a pitch to center for an RBI double, cutting the lead to 4-3.
Buckingham pitcher David Itterly reached 95 pitches, the maximum number, on the double by Nason and was relieved by Noe Lara.
Cape tied it on a hit-and-run play. Cody Tilden singled to right, scoring Nason from second.
“(The rally) was big (in the seventh),” Nason said, “but not big enough.”
Tied 4-4, Buckingham grabbed the lead back for good on Greenwell’s blast with one out in the seventh.
“I’m not shocked by the fact this game came down to the bottom of the seventh” Buckingham manager Bob O’Grady said. “Their pitcher (Curran) threw a great game, he just made a few mistakes.”
Curran went all seven innings for Cape and recorded eight strikeouts. He played a key role throughout the series, including a solo home run in the opening victory.
Nason went 2-for-4 Thursday and put Cape on the board with an RBI single in the top of the third, which scored Evan Kelly.
Buckingham came right back with three runs in the bottom of the third. Matt Plaksia and Chris Jodon hit back-to-back doubles.
A key to Buckingham’s turnaround was the outstanding pitching they received in the final two games.
Jodon retired Cape in order in the first Thursday and Itterly pitched the next five innings. He struck out eight.
Grayson Fernandez went 5 2/3 innings for Buckingham in Wednesday’s victory.
Cape Coral 001 100 2 – 4 7 3
Buckingham 002 020 1 – 5 6 1
W – Noe Lara. L – Kelly Curran.
2B – Matt Plaksia (B), Chris Jodon (B), Michael Watson (C), Steve Nason (C). HR – Tyler Greenwell 2 (B).