By Ty Bartell
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers fell to the Williamsport Crosscutters 12-4 on Saturday night.
The Scrappers started Max Banks on the mound, while Dalton Robinson took the hill for Williamsport. The Crosscutters took an early lead in the top of the first inning when Riley Nelson’s RBI single plated Carter Dorighi.
Williamsport extended their lead in the second inning with JM Long’s RBI sacrifice fly, which scored Jackson May from third after he had stolen two bases. The Scrappers responded in the bottom half with a Beau Ankeney solo home run to left field, cutting the lead to 2-1. Later in the inning, Garret Pike’s sacrifice fly brought John Schroeder home, tying the game at 2-2.
Williamsport answered decisively in the top of the third. Jackson Mayo hit a three-run home run to right field, and Carter Dorighi added an RBI single, pushing the Crosscutters’ lead to 6-2.
The Crosscutters continued to pad their lead with a run in the sixth and another in the seventh. They exploded for four more runs in the top of the ninth, creating a commanding 12-2 advantage. Mahoning Valley managed to score two runs in the bottom of the ninth via bases-loaded walks, but the deficit was too large to overcome as the Scrappers fell 12-4.
Williamsport improved their league-best record to 18-7, while Mahoning Valley dropped to 13-15. Both teams will face off again on Sunday, July 7, with a 2:05 p.m. first pitch.
