SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Ben Kramer and Austin Clauser didn't even realize how many strikeouts they accrued.
Upon realization that the duo combined for 14 K's, they gave each other a firm, congratulatory hand shake.
Cressona thrived from the stellar performance of its pitching staff to defeat Schuylkill Haven 6-5 in a District 24 Little League 11-12-year-old Tournament Pool 2 game Tuesday.
The victory gives Cressona (3-1) the Pool 2 title and a berth in Saturday's quarterfinals.
"That's pretty crazy," Kramer said of Cressona's pitching stats. "I didn't know we even had half of that."
Kramer struck out nine in 4.2 innings on the hill. Clauser came to the rescue in the fifth inning, striking out five of the eight batters he faced. He struck out the side in the top of the sixth inning to end the game in dramatic fashion.
"I felt confident in myself," Clauser said. "I knew that I had a good defense behind me."
Added Cressona manager Jeff Smith: "Ben and Austin have been two of the top pitchers in Cressona. They've made huge strides this past year."
Cressona's pitching numbers would have gone for naught if not for a four-run rally in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Trailing 5-2, Kramer opened the fifth inning with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Clauser.
Nate Nabholz followed with an RBI double to slice Haven's lead to 5-4. Anthony Snesavage then reached on an error to plate Nabholz.
Rob Carretta capped the comeback with an RBI double, putting Cressona ahead 6-5.
"They've been taking turns spreading the glory," Smith said. "This was really a team effort."
Kramer finished with two hits for Cressona, leading off the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer to right-center field.
Kramer's hit in the final inning, however, meant much more.
"I thought the home run to lead off the game was going to pump us up," Smith said. "His hit in the last inning was the one to really get us going."
The game was tied 2-2 after four innings before Schuylkill Haven surged ahead with three runs in the top of the fifth.
Jake Luckenbill started things with a double to the left-field wall. Josh Kalyan followed with a single and Kobe Brish drew a walk to load the bases.
Jake Pothering then hit an RBI single through the gap on the right side of the infield. Ben Connors duplicated the hit two pitches later, this time plating two runs.
"I knew we had to get as many runs as we could," Schuylkill Haven manager B.J. Evans said. "Cressona is a dangerous team."
After Cressona got ahead early, courtesy of Kramer's homer, Schuylkill Haven took the lead back with two runs in the second frame on a two-run double by Jack Fultz.
Cressona tied the game in the fourth inning when Bailey Reichert reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Alex Sattizahn's RBI single.
While Cressona clinches the Pool 2 title with the win, the loss doesn't eliminate Schuylkill Haven from playoff consideration.
Haven (2-1) faces Orwigsburg (0-2) in the completion of their suspended game tonight in Orwigsburg. Orwigsburg leads the game 5-2 in the fourth inning.
A Haven win clinches a playoff spot. Haven can also advance with a loss if Pottsville Rotary defeats Orwigsburg on Friday.
If Orwigsburg beats both Schuylkill Haven and Rotary, Orwigsburg will earn the second berth from Pool 2.
"How you respond to the challenge is the true test of a young man," Evans said. "Our test will be at Orwigsburg." Game Summary