Tracie Vinal Photo

ENDWELL – When the dust settled for the season, The Chenango County Junior Hellcats remarkably played Maine-Endwell six times – splitting the six games series at 3-3 – however, it was Maine-Endwell who earned the most important win, eliminating the Junior Hellcats with a 2-1 win on Tuesday, July 18.

After losing to M-E on Saturday, July 15, the Junior Hellcats entered into an elimination game with Maine-Endwell – winner earns the right to advance to play Vestal, loser goes home.

The series record at the time sat in favor of the Hellcats at 3-2 – as the Hellcats earned the better of M-E throughout the regular season, taking the series at 3-1.

However, back-to-back playoff wins for M-E sent the Junior Hellcats packing.

“M-E scored two in the first off of good hitting. (M-E) put the ball in play, moved runners, and produced. There were a few close calls that didn't go our way, that helped M-E put runners on base. We were fortunate to escape with just two (runs) allowed,” said Junior Hellcats head coach Nick McCullough.

Following the bottom of the first inning – where Maine-Endwell smashed in two runs for the 2-0 lead – the Junior Hellcats buckled down and went to work, blanking the Spartans for the remainder of the game.

“They threw Mancini (Michael Mancini of the Little League World Series Champion team from Maine-Endwell) again, verses us. We've had his number all regular season. We hit him pretty hard all year,” said coach McCullough. “Today, we did the same, we just hit it right at them. I've never coached a game where I've seen so many smoked balls, that were caught. You have got to tip your hat to him for pitching a great game. He made some gutsy pitches at points in the game, and they went in his favor.”

Taking the loss on the mound for the Junior Hellcats was Cody Beckwith.

“Cody (Beckwith) pitched absolutely amazing. We had a game plan on how to attack the hitters, and he did exactly what he had to do. He mixed it up and kept them off balanced. When you have a starter, give up two runs. You expect your offense to produce, and today we didn't. I'm proud of him (Cody Beckwith),” said coach McCullough of his pitcher. “Like I've said before, this is playoff baseball at its finest. You never know how many runs it's going to take to win. Today it was only two. We put the ball in play, had a few chances and couldn't come through. I will say they will have their hands full with Vestal. Especially with the NYS pitch count rules. Vestal is a great team and I think they'll give them a run, but you always have got to watch out for the underdog.”