CRESSONA - Cressona manager Jeff Smith wanted his players to smile.
While the scoreboard spelled the end of their Little League careers, there were so many smiles from the Cressona players, parents and fans alike that it was hard to believe Cressona didn't win Tuesday's Section 3 Little League 11-12-year-old contest against Keystone.
Keystone pounded out 19 hits and slugged three home runs to capture the Section 3 championship with a 25-2 victory over the District 24 champions. The victory advances the District 12 champs to the Pennsylvania State Little League Tournament to be held at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
"I told them if they couldn't smile, they couldn't have a season-ending party," Smith said of his Cressona squad. "They enjoyed their last official minutes on a Little League field together and that's what it's all about."
After Keystone took a victory lap around the ballpark, hoisting the Section 3 championship banner, Cressona took a lap to commemorate years of memories.
This group of Cressona all-stars began playing together in minor league and stayed together all the way through the final moments Tuesday. Along the way they captured three District 24 titles and made a ton of memories.
"This isn't the end of a season for them," Jeff Smith said as his players ran around the field. "This is the end of six seasons that they played together."
Cressona fought valiantly in its final game.
After Keystone jumped ahead 2-0 in the top of the first, Cressona battled back to knot the game in the bottom half of the frame.
Austin Clauser hit a single up the middle and advanced on a wild pitch. Hunter Luckenbill plated Clauser with an RBI single.
Luckenbill advanced to second on an error and then to third on a wild pitch. Luke Smith then skied a sacrifice fly to plate Cressona's 87th and final run in the 11-game all-star season.
Keystone surged ahead in the top of the second, scoring three runs to take a 5-2 lead. After three full innings, Cressona still trailed 5-2.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't muster enough to get a run," Jeff Smith said. "We didn't strand many, but we didn't put many on base."
Cressona managed only four hits. Kramer, Clauser and Luckenbill were responsible for three of them.
Those three players recorded batting averages over .425 in the season. Kramer led the team with an average of .559.
"The top of the order is the bread and butter," Jeff Smith said. "Then you count on the others to drive them in."
After the third inning, Cressona began to falter, giving up six unearned runs in the next two frames due to errors. Cressona finished with seven errors.
"We had a lot of plays that we could have made and should have made," Smith said. "We weren't playing well and it was a 5-2 game."
Going into the sixth, Keystone led 11-2 and Cressona set out to have some fun in its final inning as a team.
"We knew it was our last Little League game," Kramer said. "We just wanted to have fun."
Cressona threw three pitchers in the final frame, giving up 13 runs in the process.
Keystone simply pounded the ball in the 19-hit attack, sending 49 batters to the plate. Ross Glossner hit two homers and Mahlik Houtz added another bomb for Keystone.
Keystone hit seven home runs in its two games against Cressona.
"The ball just explodes off their bat," Smith said. "They hit the ball hard."
This group of Cressona all-stars is the only group from Cressona to ever win the District 24 9-10-year-old title, the 10-11-year-old crown and the 11-12-year-old championship.
"I'm extremely proud to have coached these kids the past three years," Jeff Smith said. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'm proud to be a part of it." Game Summary