MOUNT VERNON — The recent history in Little League baseball between Mount Vernon and Guernsey County can add another chapter.
The Mount Vernon 12-year-old All-Stars scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull off a stunning 8-6 come-from-behind victory at Phillips Park on Wednesday.
The two teams played in the district championship last year, with Mount Vernon ultimately coming out on top. This year, it looked like Guernsey County would get revenge when the team held a 6-2 lead in the fifth.
But Mount Vernon was patient. Each batter waited for his pitch. As a result, Mount Vernon loaded the bases without swinging the bat.
Fred Hart drove the first run in, when Logan Springer scored as the second baseman misplayed a grounder.
Jared Laslo then smacked a single up the middle, scoring Tim Zeller.
Then it was Cade Finnell’s turn.
The youngster launched a fly ball into the left-centerfield gap, emptying the bases on a three-RBI triple. The play ended with Laslo sliding into home, just ahead of the throw.
Mount Vernon manager Dan Trace was at a loss to describe how the comeback came about.
“I don’t know. I really don’t,” Trace said after the game. “We got on base. Then we just started moving, and we got the key hits. We got the right hits at the right time. Finnell, especially, came up really big when we needed it.”
Finnell himself later scored the final run on a passed ball. As he slid home, Guernsey County pitcher Konner Roberts positioned himself next to home plate and was knocked head over heels, landing hard on his side. Roberts was eventually helped up and stayed in the game.
