Center fielder Billy Mollison brings home the game-winning run for Gateway during last night’s seven-inning match against visiting Amherst. Gateway won 2-1. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
HUNTINGTON – While it has been a trying stretch for Gateway’s 11-12 year old Little League All-Star team, last night was an evening that will stick with the boys for the rest of the summer.
Entering Pettis Field winless, Gateway clawed their way out of a one run hole to defeat the visiting All-Stars from Amherst 2-1 in seven innings, thanks to a seventh inning home run from Billy Mollison, who would subsequently take the ball in the bottom of the final frame and retire the final three batters for Amherst and preserve Gateway’s first win of the summer All-Star season.
After the game, Gateway Coach Jared Heeter was ecstatic with his squad’s performance.
“They (the team) all put everything together tonight,” he said.
Gateway didn’t commit a single error in the field for the evening, and were led by a stellar pitching performance from starter Bobby Archambault, who surrendered only one run before getting it back himself in the sixth inning.
Gateway All-Star Majors second baseman Brandon Daniels connects during last night’s game against Amherst. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
With his squad down to their last few outs, and the prospect of going winless on the short All-Star season hanging in the balance, Archambault reached base on a walk and scored after two key Gateway hits to knot the score at 1-1.
The top of the seventh was Mollison’s time to shine, as the relief pitcher stepped up to the plate and belted a deep bomb that would prove to be the game’s deciding run later in the inning.
Heeter also went on to praise the play of shortstop Jacob Rafuf, who was the little gators’ defensive catalyst in the infield.
“He was huge, he had a lot of outs for us,” the skipper said.
All in all, a satisfying win for a Gateway team that never stopped believing after losing its first three contests of the All-Star season.
“We haven’t had a lot of practices because of the rain, and we’ve had two really tough losses so far,” summed up Heater. “But this was a great ballgame.”
