CORNWALL – A comeback in the bottom of the sixth and final inning had the Williamsburg Pioneers defeat the Cornwall River Rats 3-2 to take the Division 7 Junior-Senior league championship July 29th in Cornwall.
The Pioneers had a rocky start in the championship tournament, losing to the Cornwall River Rats, and moving into the B-side of the playoff bracket.
Williamsburg moved through their playoff bracket winning the next three matches to reach the championship match against the River Rats, the same team that beat the Pioneers in the first game.
Cornwall’s bullpen made short work of Williamsburg through the first three innings. Brendan Shaver was the lone Pioneer to get on base hitting a single in the first inning before being stranded on third.
Cornwall took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, adding one more in the fifth inning thanks to a triple.
Maclean Machan put the Pioneers on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning. A base-hit single sent him to first base, then he stole second. A base hit from Brayden Barrie set up Machan on third, then Machan stole home. The Pioneers still trailed the River Rats 2-1 going into the final inning.
Nolan Henry landed a base-hit single in the bottom of the sixth to get on base, he then stole his way around the bases to tie the game 2-2.
The River Rats walked on Kayne McCadden who then made his way, stealing to third base and setting up the game winning run. With two out, Dean Lapier took to the plate, going to a count of three balls, one strike before he hit a single, sending home McCadden, securing a repeat of the Junior-Senior championship for Williamsburg.
“It was a great tournament,” said coach David Lapier. “They started off with their first loss but did well and clinched the championship in the end.”
This is the second year in a row the team has won the championship. Last year they defeated the Winchester Sox 9-4.