Nationals 10, Giants 9
In a game that represented a tuneup for two teams destined to meet the next week in the first round of the Philipstown Little League Minors Playoffs, the Giants and the Nationals played to a nail-biting last-out-at-home-plate 10-9 game last Saturday (June 6).
Paced by home runs from Tommy Tucker and Julian Ambrose, the Giants were leading 7-2 in the top of the sixth when the Nationals rallied for eight runs to take a 10-7 lead. In the bottom of the sixth the Giants would not go quietly. Conrad White knocked in Tommy Tucker to bring the score to 10-8. With Conrad and James Wynn on base and two outs, Scott Bailey got a hit past first, driving in Conrad as James raced home with the potential tying run.
The ball and James arrived at home plate at the same time, as James missed the plate and catcher Jake Hotaling missed the tag. In a fitting finish to a dramatic game, foreshadowing a great playoff game to come during the next week, Jake tagged out James before he could reach the plate, preserving the Nationals’ 10-9 victory.
Photos by Kristin Van Tassel
