Branch could have been demoralized after giving up a four-run lead in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.
Four innings later, those feelings of disappointment turned to elation.
Dave Pedron's two-out, two-run single in the top of the 11th inning lifted No. 6 Branch (13-6) to an 8-6 upset victory over No. 3 DeAngelo's in a Schuylkill County Teener League Senior Division first-round playoff game at Steidle Field.
The double-elimination tournament continues for both teams Friday, with Branch visiting Schuylkill Haven in a winners' bracket game and DeAngelo's hosting Shenandoah in a losers' bracket game at 5:30 p.m. at Steidle Field.
With the game tied at 6 in the 11th, Evan Sukeena started the game-winning rally by reaching on an error. Gino DiNicola singled, and Pedron followed with his game-winning hit.
Pedron had a 3-for-5 game that included an RBI single in the first inning.
Branch manager Jim Kramer credited his relief pitcher, Dylan Stephen, for throwing four innings of shutout relief after his team failed to close out the game in regulation.
"The relief pitcher came through and shut everybody down," Kramer said. "Our center fielder lost the ball in
the lights in the seventh inning, and that happens when you're used to playing in the day."
DeAngelo's (16-3) forced extra innings by scoring four runs on a pair of two-run singles, the first by Matt Schappell and the second by Sayer Breisch.
Breisch ended up with a 3-for-5 effort that included four RBIs. He also had an RBI single in the first inning, and a groundout RBI in the third.
His game-tying single came on a ball that was hit high in the air to center field in which it looked like the fielder had a play. However, the outfield was playing deep and the ball dropped in to plate the tying runs.
DeAngelo's manager Joe Selinko was proud that his team rallied to tie the game.
"These kids don't know what the word quit means," Selinko said. "We had our chances in extra innings as well and we were always just one hit away."
Game Summary