By BRADY FARKAS
www.cliftonparkworldseries.com
CLIFTON PARK – It had all the makings of a heavyweight title bout, but on Tuesday, it was the lightweight who packed the biggest punch.
The diminutive Charlie Staples’ face lit up after his game-winning hit as his teammates mobbed him on the field. It put his Glen Allen, VA, team into the championship round of the 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series in Clifton Park. Staples’ hit through the drawn-in infield in the bottom of the eighth inning led his team to a 6-5 win over Jasper, IN, in a thriller.
All Staples could do, he said, was “throw my helmet and clap.”
A contingent from the Guilderland Bulldogs shared in his smiles and thrills. Glen Allen’s win also propelled the Guilderland Bulldogs into the championship round of six, which starts today. Glen Allen’s victory eliminated Jasper and Atlantic Shore, NJ.
“I love Virginia,” said Guilderland manager Brian Grabek, who led his team over to the Glen Allen dugout to congratulate and thank those who helped them advance
“That’s the most brutal game I’ve ever been to,” Grabek said.
It was brutal because the two teams left a combined 17 men on base and committed a combined 10 errors in the extra-inning affair.
It was brutal because neither team could hold a lead. Jasper took an early 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Ben Wendholt.
Jasper then lost a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning when Glen Allen scored three times, courtesy of two hits and three Jasper errors.
In addition to its defensive woes, the game was brutally frustrating for Jasper because Glen Allen used an array of sacrifice and suicide bunts, as well as slash-hit plays, which included Staples’ game-winner.
It was a gritty and tough game to watch, with neither team able to take and maintain control.
But after Staples’ hit, it was beautiful in the end for the Southeast regional champs.
Noah Williams earned the win for Glen Allen, tossing 1 2/3 innings of relief. Starter Kyle Battle went the first six, allowing two earned runs. Williams started the seventh and recorded two outs, but when two Jasper players reached base, Battle was brought back in to face one batter. Williams then threw the final inning.
“Kyle (Battle) pitched another great game. He’s been our ace all all-star season,” said manager Bill Mawyer. “
Aside from Staples, Glen Allen was led offensively by Battle, who went 2-for-4, and Cole Blackman, who went 2-for-3.
The Ron Tellefsen Player of the Game for Jasper, Cal Krueger, was the tough-luck loser on the mound. He pitched 2-1/3 innings in relief, allowing just the hit by Staples. He also went 1-for-4 at the plate, driving in the then-tying runs in the fifth with a double.
Although Jasper’s tournament run is over, Mike Blessinger, the manager of the Ohio Valley regional champions, was thrilled.
“Whatever happens in our life, we’ll always have this great moment, this great experience. And for me to be a part of it, it’s humbling and it’s a great, great honor,” he said.

Catch all the action, figure out the run differentials, take a poll and more with our webcast of Jasper, Indiana vs. Glen Allen, Virginia

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