Pennsville holds District 3 LL Tournament destiny in their hands after walk-off win, combined no-hitter over North Vineland
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
VINELAND – Pennsville manager Jay Weatherbee could spend hours trying to figure all the scenarios that would get his team to the bracket round of the District 3 Little League Tournament, but he reduced it all to three words made famous by a legendary NFL owner.
Just win, baby.
Pennsville put itself in a position to advance to the next stage of the tournament with a 10-0 four-inning no-hitter over host North Vineland. As much as the next two days will have a bearing on the seedings, as near as Weatherbee can figure his team just has to win its pool play final against Millville to get in.
“(All those scenarios) doesn’t really matter,” Weatherbee said. “My boys have to come ready to play Saturday. I told them out there win-win, lose we go home. It might come down to run differential and all that, but they don’t need to know that. If we win, we’re good.”
But first Millville and Penns Grove play a huge game in the American Division Friday to set the stage for Saturday’s showdown. There are scenarios for any of the three teams to finish No. 1.
Regardless of what happens Friday, as long as Pennsville wins Saturday it figures to be in. There’s even a scenario that if they lose Saturday they could come out of a three-way tie with the 2 seed (if they give up fewer runs to Millville than Penns Grove).
The National Division pool is a lot less complicated. East Vineland is the 1 seed even after getting routed by West Cumberland Thursday, while the winner of Friday’s Elmer-South Vineland game will claim the division’s second seed.
In any event, Pennsville had to win Thursday to make any of the weekend scenarios possible. They jumped out to an 8-0 lead after two innings and Pat Galloway and Brayden Weatherbee combined on a no-hitter.
The defending district champs walked it off in the fourth when Trey Sam scored on Landon Nazar’s two-out shot into the right centerfield gap. Nazar produced the first two runs of the game when his speed forced a bad throw on a bases-loaded roller to short.
“They played well,” Weatherbee said. “Pat pitched well. He did what I asked him to. I told him he’d come out at 65, save him for Monday if we make it.
“I had him all year on Penn Tire. I relied on him a lot during the season. I know what he can do out here. I know what he had. I know I was comfortable with him putting him out there. He did his job.”
Galloway, who pitched the final two innings of the win over Buena Monday, threw 61 pitches over the first 3 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out seven. North Vineland put only two balls in play against him, a grounder to second baseman Mason Seaver for the final out of the first inning and a grounder to shortstop Sam in the third.
Brayden Weatherbee got the final two outs on a strikeout and a rundown on the bases.
“I felt amazing,” Galloway said. “Everything was going my way the whole day. I just had to throw strikes and try to get the team a win.”
PENNSVILLE 10, NORTH VINELAND 0
| North Vineland | 000 0- | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Pennsville | 350 2- | 10 | 9 | 0 |
District 3 standings
| AMERICAN | NATIONAL | ||
| Millville | 2-0 | East Vineland | 2-1 |
| Penns Grove | 2-1 | South Vineland | 1-1 |
| Pennsville | 2-1 | Elmer | 1-1 |
| Buena | 1-2 | West Cumberland | 1-2 |
| North Vineland | 0-3 |
Thursday’s Games
Pennsville 10, North Vineland 0
West Cumberland 11, East Vineland 1
Friday’s Games
Penns Grove at Millville, 5:45 p.m.
Elmer at South Vineland, 5:45 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Millville at Pennsville, 5:45 p.m.
Buena at North Vineland, 5:45 p.m.
End of pool play
AMERICAN DIVISION PLAYOFF BREAKDOWN
On Friday:
if Millville beats Penns Grove: Millville 3-0, Penns Grove 2-2, Pennsville 2-1
If Penns Grove beats Millville: Penns Grove 3-1, Millville 2-1, Pennsville 2-1
On Saturday:
Millville beats Penns Grove and Pennsville (and Buena beats North Vineland): No. 1 Millville 4-0, Penns Grove/Pennsville/Buena 2-2 and the 2 seed determined by run ratio (fewest runs allowed based on 6-inning game. Pennsville would be 2 if it gives up fewer runs to Millville than Penns Grove).
Millville beats Penns Grove and Pennsville beats Millville: No. 1 Pennsville 3-1, No. 2 Millville 3-1
Penns Grove beats Millville and Millville beats Pennsville: No. 1 Penns Grove 3-1, No. 2 Millville 3-1
Penns Grove beats Millville and Pennsville beats Millville: No. 1 Penns Grove 3-1, No. 2 Pennsville 3-1
NATIONAL DIVISION PLAYOFF BREAKDOWN
No. 1 East Vineland, Elmer-South Vineland winner No. 2
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