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VALHALLA, N.Y. Ryes Gavin Kenny sprinted to first base as fast as he could with two outs in the sixth and final inning and his team trailing, 8-7.
He beat the throw to first base, keeping the Rye Little League's 11/12 baseball season alive. His team then rallied with five more runs to beat Eastchester in a wild, seesaw affair, 12-8.
I thought I was safe, but you never know what the umpires think, Kenny said with a laugh after the game.
That play proved to be the crucial moment in Game One of the New York District 20 Little League championship in the 11/12 baseball division at Pat Henry Field. Rye scored six runs in the sixth inning and forced a Game Two at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on the same field to determine the district champion.
The game featured multiple ties, lead changes and momentum swings. Rye built a 6-0 lead, but Eastchester got it all back in the fourth inning after a three-run home run that tied the game.
Eastchester took an 8-6 lead with a two-run homer in the fifth, but Rye rallied in the sixth and held on for the win.
Ryes Forbes Crowley said his team got angry when its six run lead evaporated.
We kind of just got really (ticked) off so we could just come back, Forbes said. So we got mad, and we got up to bat so we could try and tie the game, maybe take the lead.
The players were caught off guard at first, but then buckled down and went to work with the bats, Mat Bruno said.
We were thinking, How did they do this? Mat said. Weve got to get some more hits, and weve got to keep doing good.
Kenny expects a close contest in Tuesday's rematch.
Im excited for it. It could go either way, Kenny said. My team is hoping for a win every day.
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