Baseball

Baseball: Northern Lebanon Little League Wins Section 4 Championship

by
Dan Rau
July 18, 2024

After winning the District 6 Championship, the Northern Lebanon Little League 12u All-Stars earned their spot at this week’s Section 4 Championship Tournament being played in Johnstown. The winner of this double-elimination tournament will move on to play in the Pennsylvania State Championship Tournament.

We will work to bring you updates after each game that Northern Lebanon plays this postseason, as each victory moves them closer to the ultimate goal of playing in the Little League World Series. However, more important than wins and losses, we are attempting to chronicle the journey of these young athletes who are having fun, competing together, and making memories together.

Below is a recap of all three games on their way to winning the Section 4 Championship. The most recent game is highlighted in green.

If you like this type of coverage, please let us know by Following us on social media: Twitter/X – @lebcosports1 and Facebook.

For any questions, comments, or discrepancies, please reach out to dan@lebcosports.com.

Game 1 – Sunday, July 14th

Northern Lebanon 4, State College 3

In the first game of the Section 4 Championship Tournament, the Northern Lebanon Little League 12u was tasked with playing against the team that ended their season last year at the 11u level. This was a thrilling game that once again showed the resolve of the young athletes who are representing LebCo.

An RBI single in the 2nd inning followed by a solo home run in the 4th had NL down 2-0. In the Bottom 5th, Greyson McQuaide reached base after he was hit by a pitch. The next batter, Taven Zang, used the opportunity to tie the game when he hit a two-run home run over the wall in left field.

With the score knotted at 2-2 in the 7th, State College strung together a single and a double to take a 3-2 lead. Much like in the District 6 Championship game, the NL players did not back down when trailing in their final at-bat. With one out, Nolan Anspach doubled. It was then Isaac Good’s chance to stand in the batter’s box. Good delivered, driving the pitch over the centerfield wall for a two-run walk-off home run to give NL the 4-3 victory.

Nolan Anspach started the game for NL, going three innings, allowing two hits, striking out six, and only walking two. Shelbie Fry entered in relief, pitching the final four innings where she allowed three hits, struck out six, and walked one. Fry was credited with the win.

Game 2 – Monday, July 15th

Northern Lebanon 10, Hollidaysburg 5

Batting first as the visiting team, Northern Lebanon got on the board in the Top 1st when Luke Copenhaver drew his first of four walks on the evening. An aggressive Copenhaver then stole second and third before Nolan Anspach hit an RBI single. Two batters later, Greyson McQuaide doubled to advance Anspach to third. An alert Anspach then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 2-0 before NL was retired.

In the Bottom 2nd, Hollidaysburg strung together a series of singles to tie the game. NL quickly responded in the Top 3rd when they drew three straight walks to load the bases. Nolan Anspach delivered again, this time scoring Connor Kapp and Shelbie Fry to make the score 4-2.

NL would hold the two-run lead until Hollidaysburg again tied the game by scoring two in the Bottom 4th. Unlike the see-saw games that NL has endured recently, they would put the game away in the Top 5th when they exploded for six runs. Another three walks loaded the bases before Isaac Good hit a two-run double to score Fry and Copenhaver, making it 6-4. After an intentional walk again loaded the bases, a Taven Zang walk scored Nolan Anspach. The next batter, Brody Harding, was hit by a pitch to score Good, giving NL the 8-4 lead. Two more walks issued to Parker Wright and Gunner Noel resulted in the score ballooning to 10-4. Hollidaysburg added a run in the Bottom 6th, but it would not be enough to change the outcome.

Taven Zang pitched 5.2 innings, striking out nine without giving up a walk. After Zang maxed out on pitches, Parker Wright came in to record the final out via a strikeout.

Leading the offense were Nolan Anspach and Isaac Good, who each went 2-3 at the plate. Anspach had three RBI, and Good added two RBI.The story of the game was the fourteen bases-on-balls that were issued to NL batters.

Game 3 – Wednesday, July 17th

Northern Lebanon 13, State College 2

Section 4 Championship Game

On Wednesday evening, Northern Lebanon had a chance to win the Section 4 Championship with a win over State College. The good news is that they would have two chances to win the title since they entered the game with a 2-0 record, having beaten State College earlier in the double-elimination tournament. The even better news is that they would not need a second game after soundly defeating the same team that ended their 11u season in 2023.

Playing as the away team, NL had first dibs at putting a run up on the scoreboard, which they did in the Top 1st when Luke Copenhaver had a lead-off walk, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, then was driven home when Nolan Anspach hit a grounder to second base. State College responded with a run of their own in the Bottom 1st, turning a lead-off double into a run following a sac fly and a ground out of their own.

The score would remain tied 1-1 until the Top 3rd when Issac Good hit a home run over the left field wall with one runner on base to give NL a two-run lead. After pitcher Nolan Anspach held State College scoreless in the Bottom 3rd, NL again went on the offensive in the Top 4th with Gunner Noel scoring Brody Harding and Parker Wright on a hard-hit ground ball that resulted in a two-RBI single. In the Top 5th, Nolan Anspach hit a liner, then used his speed to round the bases for an inside-the-park home run to make the score 6-1.

Already in control of the game, NL exploded in the top 6th for seven more runs. The effort started with two walks, followed by Jacob Anspach reaching on an error that also scored Wright and Noel. Nate Marley then singled to score Jacob Anspach. Two additional walks loaded the bases, and a passed ball scored Marley to make it 10-1. Greyson McQuaide then doubled to center, scoring Shelbie Fry and Nolan Anspach. Before State College could get out of the inning, another passed ball scored Good to give NL the 13-1 lead.

To the credit of State College, they showed some fight in their final at-bat, scoring a run before Nolan Anspach struck out the final two batters to clinch the Section 4 Championship for NL. Nolan Anspach pitched all six innings, giving up two runs (one earned), walking just one batter, and impressively racking up eleven strikeouts. He was also effective at the plate, going 1-2 with two walks, a home run, and two RBI.

Good added two RBI, going 2-3 with a walk and a home run. McQuaide went 3-4 at the plate with two doubles and two RBI. Nine different NL players scored in the game.

What’s next?

Northern Lebanon will now prepare for the Pennsylvania State Championship Tournament which is set to begin on July 23rd in Newville, Cumberland County. The tournament will include the winners from each of the eight sections from across the State. The winner of States will advance to play in the Regional Tournament that takes place in Bristol, CT and is broadcast on ESPN.