Linglestown playoff baseball starts with controversy

The Linglestown Juggernauts sandlot baseball team kicked off their playoff season Friday evening with a wild one at Koons Park against Hummelstown.

Light was fading as Linglestown was mounting a last-gasp, two-out rally to erase a four-run deficit in the seventh and final inning.

Hummelstown changed pitchers after the Juggernauts loaded the bases.

Linglestown veteran utility player Brad Sanders was the first batter to face a hard-throwing reliever. With two strike against him, Sanders ripped a single to knock in two, making the score 8–6 in favor of Hummelstown.

After shortstop Marc Frailey walked to load the bases again, Kyle Hollingsworth stepped to the plate looking for a hit to potentially tie or win the game. With a full count, the game ended in controversy when the home plate umpired called a third strike on a pitch that appeared to be low.

The way the rally ended was disappointing, but Linglestown put themselves behind the eight ball by giving up five runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

The win gave Hummelstown a one game lead in the best-of-three series. The winner moves to the semi-final round in the East Shore Twilight League playoffs.

Action resumes today with a noon game at Hummelstown.