PONY State Championships:Upper Makefield a runner-up

Progress, steady progress.
That was the take for Upper Makefield as they were pleased, and at the same time disappointed, with their second place finish in the 11-year-old Pennsylvania PONY State Championships held July 18 and 19 in Monessen Township.
Representing Bucks County, the Upper Makefield Mavericks, which made the championship tournament last year but was knocked out in three games, ousted the host team Monessen, 7-4, in the semifinals before losing, 7-1, to defending champion Washington in the title tilt.
Though many of the Upper Makefield players had worked through the effects of a five-hour car ride to far-western Pennsylvania in their double-header split the day before, they still looked a little weary as they fell behind Monessen in the semifinal game, 3-0, in the first inning, then 4-0 in the second.
But the first of three double plays in the game seemed to ignite Upper Makefield, leading to a comeback in the bottom of the second. A leadoff single by Nick Roda and a reach-on-error for Drew Burschlag got their offense going, and Upper Makefield made the most of the opportunity as both runners scored on hits by Anthony Stefani and Matt Dellehy.
In the third inning, Riley Thompson’s leadoff single and steal resulted in a run when Nick Roda singled him in. Joe Rutkowski’s right field fence-banging single scored Roda, and Drew Burschlag’s infield hit then scored Rutkowski, who had stolen second and third.
Up 5-4, Upper Makefield put the game away in the sixth as Rutkowski skied a shot to the fence in dead center, Burschlag scratched out an infield hit, and TJ Roberts walked to load the bases. Riley Thompson hit a two-run double to extend the lead to 7-4 and assure that Upper Makefield would play for the state championship.
Rested and ready, pitching and defense-rich Washington was waiting to defend their crown. Aside from the considerable aforementioned strengths, the game was decided by the team--in this case, Washington--which took advantage of their scoring opportunities. Washington pitcher Cole Griffin threw a complete game as Upper Makefield left men on second and/or third in three innings, while Washington chipped in runs in each of their at bats.
The defending champs took a 2-0 lead in the first on a double to left by Christopher Gouin, an RBI infield chopper by Griffin, a double to center by Blake Rothbacher and an RBI on a fielder’s choice by Dakota Wilkinson. It was all they needed to close out Upper Makefield as Chase D’Arcangelo singled up the middle and scored his team’s lone run in the second while Washington used combinations of singles, steals, and smart behind-runner hitting to add a run or two each frame to create the game-winning space they needed to clinch the championship.
With the win, Washington took home the Pennsylvania PONY State Championship one more time and moves on to the North Carolina-based super regional, one step from the Virginia-based World Championship. Finalist Upper Makefield goes home to get ready for the Cal Ripken Pennsylvania State Championships next weekend when they get another shot at state supremacy.