Comeback kids of Clifton Park

By James Allen

CLIFTON PARK -- Five frustration-filled innings were not enough to discourage 
Clifton Park Sunday evening.

In front of a raucous crowd at Clifton Common, Clifton Park finally cashed in on 
a bevy of base runners when Williamsport committed two critical errors with two 
outs in the sixth as the host squad rallied to register a riveting 5-4 victory 
in a National Division pool play contest at the 15-year old Babe Ruth World 
Series.

"Baseball is a game of luck. It finally came to our side," said Clifton Park 
outfielder/pitcher Jeff Carter, who shook off a loss from Friday by recording 
the final five outs to earn the save.

"I had to redeem myself from Friday," a jubilant Carter said as he came off the 
field.

"He didn't get the start Friday for nothing," Clifton Park head coach Bruce 
Cramer said. "Last year, I utilized Jeff in a closer role for some of the state 
tournament games. He did a great job in this game and the experience in that 
role helped him."

Carter ended the game by getting Stephen Stopper to pop up weakly to Clifton Park second baseman Dylan Cramer.

"We were in their face every inning. We had to punch through," Bruce Cramer 
said. "We got a couple of breaks in the sixth, but we also put plenty of 
pressure on them too."

Clifton Park's improbable rally handed Williamsport, the Middle Atlantic Region 
champions, its second gut-wrenching setback of the tournament in as many games. 
On Friday, Williamsport squandered a 7-1 lead in falling to Waite Park, Minn. 
8-7.

Clifton Park (1-2) entered the final game of Sunday's five-game slate having 
scored just one run in losses to Greenville, N.C. (12-0 in five innings Friday) 
and Waite Park, Minn. (3-1).

Through five innings, Clifton Park stranded nine runners on base to fall behind 
4-0.

Clifton Park put pressure on Williamsport again in the sixth, but it appeared the 
Middle Atlantic Region champs would escape completely unscathed again. With two outs, Williamsport relief pitcher Nick Keener dropped a soft pop up as Clifton 
Park scored its first run.

Josh Lewyckyj, who singled in his three at bats, walked on a 3-2 pitch to shave 
the deficit to 4-2.

Grant Cunningham, the starting pitcher for Clifton Park, then smacked a line 
drive deep to left. Joel Worthington raced back and extended out his glove for 
appeared at first to be a catch. Worthington, however, never established control 
and ball fell on the ground as two runners scored to tie the game at 4.
"My heart dropped to my toes and then it came back up to my face," Carter said.
"It looked like it was going to be a tremendous circus catch. We deserved to get 
a break," Bruce Cramer said.

Carter followed Cunningham and proceeded to rip an RBI single to center.
"No matter what happens in our last game, this was a great effort after two 
tough losses," Bruce Cramer said. "We played horribly in our first game and 
played Waite Park tough (Sunday morning). These kids showed what they are made of."