SAINT MARYS - The Warren Boys 10-11 year-old all-stars saw their season come to a close Wednesday with a nailbiting 7-6 loss to the all-stars from Saint Marys.
Despite facing a 7-2 deficit through four innings, the Warren team continued to fight and came extremely close to pulling off its second come-from-behind victory over Saint Marys in the past six days. Warren closed to within one in the sixth inning and had the tying run on second and go-ahead run on first in when the last out was recorded.
Saint Marys scored first with a run in the second, but Warren came back with a pair of runs in the third. Lance Baldensperger singled and Derek Knapp and Owen Balas reached on back-to-back fielder's choices. One batter later, Jackson Knupp forced home both Knapp and Balas with a two-run double that put Warren on top, 2-1.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Saint Marys would tie things in the bottom of the third and take firm control of the game with a five-spot in the fourth that made it 7-2.
From there, Warren went to work on its comeback.
To start the fifth, Knapp walked and Balas singled to set the table. Austyn Cummings grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed Knapp to score to make it 7-3 and Sam Hoover's RBI single brought home Balas to make it 7-4 after the top of the fifth.
Down to its last three outs, Warren started the sixth strong when Devin McMeans drew a walk and Baldensperger was hit by a pitch.
Knapp made it 7-5 with an RBI single and Balas' RBI fielder's choice closed the gap to 7-6.
However, with runners on first and second and with two outs, Saint Marys was able to record the third out and end the game.
Warren (1-2) finished the game with a total of eight runners stranded on base - two runners in four of the six total innings.
Warren 002 022 - 6 9
Saint Marys 011 50x - 7 12
2b-Jackson Knupp (W), Jesse McKee (S), Alec Bitler (S), Dan Wimer (S). WP-Hunter Cashmer. LP-Austyn Cummings.