LLEWELLYN - Frackville's Scotty Grigas hadn't pitched in a month.
But by the fourth inning of a title game, manager Al Norris was running out of arms and options, so he turned to the 14 year old.
It was the last pitching change Norris needed to make.
Grigas pitched 3.1 innings of relief and delivered a key run-producing double in the seventh inning to help lift Frackville to a 2-0 victory over Branch I in the championship game of the Schuylkill County Teener League Junior Division playoffs Sunday.
"I was nervous," Grigas said when told he was pitching. "I thought I would do terrible, but I did really good, actually."
Indeed he did.
Grigas replaced Alex Norris with two outs in the fourth inning and inherited a 3-0 count on Eric Nelson. Grigas walked Nelson and Price Szeliga but got out of the inning. He retired the side in order in the fifth, worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, recording a strikeout to end the game.
"Scotty's a battler and he's smart," Al Norris said. "He knows if you can overpower them with a fastball, he will mix the curveball."
Grigas allowed two hits, striking out six and walking three as he combined with Bobby Wagner, Nick Kowalishen and Norris on a three-hitter.
The loss was just the second of the season for top-seeded Branch I (19-2), which had scored 22 run in its first three playoff games.
Frackville was short on arms after rainouts Thursday and Friday forced it to play two games Saturday. Frackville beat Valley Athletic 13-3 in the quarterfinal and Hegins 4-3 in the semifinal.
Both Wagner and Norris pitched Saturday. Wagner started and went two innings Sunday but felt a pop in his throwing arm as he batted in the top of the third. Kowalishen faced four batters and recorded two outs in the bottom of the third, while Norris pitched into the fourth and was credited with a full inning of work.
Not only did Grigas steady the pitching, he also gave himself some insurance in the top of the seventh, doubling to deep center with two outs off Branch I starter Nolan Hoffman. The double drove in Max Nolter, who singled with one out, to make it a two-run game.
The victory itself was also an historic one as Frackville (18-3), which came in the No. 3 seed, became the inaugural Schuylkill County Teener League Junior Division Tournament champion.
"It was just so exciting to get the win," Grigas said. "It is the best time in my life right now."
No matter who was pitching for Frackville, the defense backed them up. One of the biggest plays was turned in by Kowalishen in center - his third position of the game - for the final out of the sixth.
Branch I loaded the bases as Hoffman walked, Luke Rinaldo singled and Nelson walked. Szeliga sent a sky-high drive to deep center, but Kowalishen went back on the ball and made the catch next to teammate Dominic Kadziek 10 feet in front of the center-field fence for the final out.
"I thought it was a moon shot; that it was straight up," he said. "I didn't know where it was going. The other fielder just came towards me. I didn't know what was going on. I just put my glove up and caught it."
In the fourth, Kowalishen, then playing right field, threw out Branch's Casey Woodford at first for the final out of the inning. Frackville also recorded a 5-6-3 putout in the third and turned a double play in the fourth. Catcher Mike Neary threw out two Branch runners attempting to steal.
Grigas' double was one of the few mistakes Hoffman made. He went the distance, allowing six hits, striking out six and walking two.
Frackville's first run was unearned. With Kowalishen on second after a single and advancement on a wild pitch, Mason Stankcovage singled to shallow center. The ball was bobbled, allowing Kowalishen to score.
"I am happy because this is the first year the playoffs were here and we won it," Kowalishen said. "It was a great game for both teams. We hit and played good and everything.
"We have a great team. We all stick together and work hard. We hit, we field, we are good players." Game Summary