By STAN HUDY
www.cliftonparkworldseries.com
CLIFTON PARK – After two games where the Clifton Park Bulldog squad showed nerves of steel with two come-from-behind victories, the chance to seal their advancement to the 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series single-elimination playoffs jumped out of their gloves.
The Bulldogs committed five errors against Meridian, ID, giving the Midwest Plains champions hope heading into the final day of pool play on Tuesday and putting Clifton Park in a must-win situation after the 6-2 loss.
“The team that makes the least amount of mistakes wins at this level,” Clifton Park manager Matt Frey said. “You can’t expect to win when you have as many errors as you have hits on the board.”
The Bulldogs continued to make their third pool play contest interesting Monday night, spotting Meridian three runs in the second inning, but again rallying with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame.
Josh Capitula and Brian Walsh both led off with singles to left field and advanced on a wild pitch. After a groundout, Frank Pizzo hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Capitula. Mike Gilooley, batting in the No. 9 spot hit a single up the middle to drive in Gregory, cutting the lead, 3-2.
Meridian doubled-up Clifton Park with a run in the third inning when Hunter Weindel reached on an error by the first baseman. Austin Yrazabel singled to left, scoring Weindel for the 4-2 lead.
Clifton Park starter Matt Alverson turned the ball over to reliever Brian Walsh for three innings, getting touched up for two runs in his final inning of work. Dameli Thacker singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Jared Brown. Blake McFadden stroked an RBI single to drive in McFadden. He would eventually come around to score on a passed ball for the 6-2 lead.
Frey spoke of a cautionary tale after Clifton Park thrilled the Clifton Park Baseball Complex hometown teams in attendance Friday and Saturday night with come-from-behind victories.
“I think they got caught looking ahead,” Frey said. “I played the game to win, I threw my ace. I didn’t look to sneak through this game.”
The Bulldogs now have their backs against a wall, facing a 2-0 Cranston, RI team who will face Meridian, ID at 1 p.m. returning to take on a determined Clifton Park team at 7:30 p.m.

MERIDIAN, ID 6, CLIFTON PARK 2
MERIDIAN CLIFTON PARK
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Brown 2 0 0 0 Sargent 3 0 1 0
McFaddn 3 1 2 1 Drum 3 0 1 0
Kreft 3 0 0 0 Callistri 2 0 0 0
Harris 1 0 0 0 Munger 1 0 0 0
Weindel 4 2 1 0 Alverson 3 0 0 0
Yrazebel 3 1 1 1 Capitula 1 1 1 0
Slattery 3 0 0 0 Walsh 1 0 0 0
Lamb 4 1 3 1 Gregory 3 1 2 0
Burnham 3 0 0 0 Morris 3 0 0 0
Thacker 3 1 1 0 Pizzo 3 0 0 1
Gilooley 2 0 1 1
Totals 29 6 7 3 Totals 25 2 6 2
MERIDIAN 031 002 0 — 6 7 0
CLIFTON PARK 020 000 0 — 2 6 5
LOB — MERIDIAN 8, CLIFTON PARK 3. SAC — PIZZO.
MERIDIAN IP H R ER BB SO
Burnham, W 7 6 2 2 1 5
CLIFTON PARK
Alverson 3 5 4 2 4 3
Walsh 3 2 2 2 1 0
Waldek 1 0 0 0 1 0

Check it out as Nick, Reda and Stan give you play-by-play, poll questions, trivia and maybe some giveaways with our internet webcast via Cover It live.

To see all the action and the sounds from the field, watch it at Babe Ruth TV.

During the remaining seven pool play games at the 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series, the fans can bid on an autographed World Series poster, signed by all of the players competing here in Clifton Park for their hometown team.
During each game, fans can bid on-line via Facebook or on Cover It Live during our live web chats and place their bid. Remember to include your team name and your bid. We will keep you updated throughout the game.

About Hannah’s Hope Fund:
Hannah Sarah Sames is a beautiful little girl who was born on March 5, 2004. She has extremely curly blonde hair, a slight build, a precocious smile, and a charming personality that lights up the room. She loves to sing and dance, and play outdoors. Hannah is our sunshine, a beaming light of love and innocence.

Giant axonal neuropathy is an inherited condition involving dysfunction of a specific type of protein in nerve cells (neurons). The protein is essential for normal nerve function because it forms neurofilaments. Neurofilaments make up a structural framework that helps to define the shape and size of the neurons. This condition is characterized by abnormally large and dysfunctional axons, which are the specialized extensions of nerve cells that are required for the transmission of nerve impulses.
She currently suffers from giant axonal neuropathy is an inherited condition involving dysfunction of a specific type of protein in nerve cells (neurons). The protein is essential for normal nerve function because it forms neurofilaments. Neurofilaments make up a structural framework that helps to define the shape and size of the neurons. This condition is characterized by abnormally large and dysfunctional axons, which are the specialized extensions of nerve cells that are required for the transmission of nerve impulses.
Hannah’s Hope Fund is a certified 501(c)3 charity.