CONNIE MACK BASEBALL: Montgomery falls to Southern Lehigh in state tournament winners bracket final

Jun 22, 2023

LOWER MILFORD – After a lightning delay that lasted about an hour, Montgomery’s offense seemed to find a spark in the top of the fourth inning.

Matt Conforti collected the Bux-Mont side’s second hit with a one-out double to right. The catcher’s courtesy runner Jake Duld went to third on an error then eluded a rundown after a fly out to slide headfirst into home plate to cut Southern Lehigh’s lead to 3-1.

Mike Capilato followed with a double to left but the chance to cut further into the deficit in the frame ended when the next batter popped up to the pitcher.

Southern Lehigh did not let Montgomery get any closer.

The Spartans scored three times in the bottom of the fourth to stretch their advantage to five. Jaden Holland, meanwhile, did not allow another run in pitching a near-complete game as Southern Lehigh earned a 7-1 victory in the Pennsylvania Connie Mack State Tournament winners bracket final Thursday night at Limeport Stadium.

“We just tried to bring some energy and we had some energy, too and just some calls that didn’t go our way kind of killed the vibe,” Montgomery coach Matt Mandarano said. “Our guys played well but we definitely did not play our best game.”

The loss sends Montgomery into an elimination game against Northern Valley – which earlier Thursday edged Chestnut Hill 2-1 – 5 p.m. Friday Winner advances to the championship round Saturday needing to knock off Southern Lehigh twice to claim the state title. Saturday’s action from Limeport begins at 11 a.m.

“Just so happened the ball didn’t fall our way,” Mandarano said. “Just it is what it is. Come out tomorrow and swing.”

Montgomery opened this year’s tournament beating Northern Valley 5-4 in eight innings last Saturday on a walk-off hit-by-pitch. Last season, Montgomery topped Northern Valley to reach the final, where it fell to Moore Township.

“I think we’ll be fine,” Mandarano said. “We faced them twice last year as well and twice this year so we should be fine.”

Holland went 6 2/3 innings, allowed one run – earned – on five hits. The right-hander walked two and struck out six.

The top three batters in Southern Lehigh’s lineup – Jeremy Yeakel-Mendez, Ismael Magallanes and Gabe Moscato – registered eight of the Spartans’ 10 hits. Yeakel-Mendez 3-for-3 with a walk and scored twice, Magallanes finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored while Moscato went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Keegan Kennally was 2-for-2 with a walk for Montgomery. Capilato took the loss on the mound, the starting pitcher giving up six runs – three earned – on nine hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out seven.

Southern Lehigh posted the game’s first three runs in the bottom of the third. Yeakel-Mendez singled with one out, went to third on a passed ball then came home as Magallanes hit an RBI single down the line into right.

Singles by Moscato and Jacoby Jacobs loaded the bases. Magallanes scored as Darien Cela reached on an error. The next at-bat, Montgomery got a force at home after a grounder back to the pitcher but an error trying for the double play at first allowed Jacobs to score for a 3-0 lead.

Lightning in the area halted play before the fourth inning. Montgomery broke through when the contest resumed – Duld caught in a rundown on the third-base line but broke for home when Southern Lehigh had no one covering the plate and slid in to make it 3-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, a Holland one-out single and a Yeakel-Mendez walk put two on for Magallanes, who grounded to the pitcher but an error trying for the force out at third enabled a run to score. Moscato gave the Spartans a 6-1 lead with a two-RBI single the next at-bat.

Southern Lehigh tacked on its seventh run in the sixth after a Moscato leadoff single then three straight walks, the last by Luke Kawczenski bringing in Moscato.

Southern Lehigh 7, Montgomery 1

Montgomery 000 100 0 – 1 5 3

Southern Lehigh 003 301 x – 7 10 3

WP: Jaden Holland 6.2 5 H 1 5 1 ER 2 BB 6 SO.

LP: Mike Capilato 5 IP 9 H 6 R 3 ER 3 BB 7 SO.

2B: M-Capilato, Matt Conforti, Conor Ziff.

Montgomery: Keegan Kennally 2-2, BB.

Southern Lehigh. Ismael Magallanes 2-4, RBI, R; Gabe Moscato 3-4, 2 RBI, R; Jeremy Yeakel-Mendez 3-3, BB, 2 R.

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