North Harford edges Rising Sun baseball to win Chesapeake title

    The Rising Sun baseball team was one strike away from advancing to the UCBAC championship game.
    Instead, the Tigers suffered another heartbreaking defeat to North Harford.
    The Hawks claimed the Chesapeake Division title with a 6-5 triumph over Rising Sun with the tying and go-ahead runs scoring on a two-out, two-strike, two-run single in the top of the seventh.

    The game began April 25 with North Harford holding a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the third when play was halted.
    The Tigers finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Daniel Richardson walked. He was forced at second on a grounder to third by Dan Willert. With Willert running on the pitch Zach Van Dyke singled to left to put runners on the corner. Tommy Stover belted a two-run triple to deep center to tie the game. The Hawks' centerfielder was able to get a glove on the ball but could not hold on. Adam Janney followed with an RBI single to give Rising Sun the lead.
    It stayed that way until the top of the seventh. With one out and a runner on second, the Tigers issued an intentional walk. The shortstop Janney made a nice play on a hard hopper but Rising Sun was unable to turn a game-ending double play.
    With runners on the corners and Austin Bartenfelder at the plate, the runner on first took off toward second and then stopped, hoping to draw a throw from pitcher Cole Benjamin, and possibly score the runner on third. But the Tigers allowed the runner to take second without a play.
    Benjamin quickly got two strikes before Bartenfelder was able to fist a blooper into center to knock in both baserunners and put North Harford ahead 6-5.
    Rising Sun still had a chance to tie or win the game in the bottom of the seventh. Richardson led off with a single. After squaring to bunt but taking the first couple pitches, Willert hit a soft liner toward third. The Hawks' third baseman Nic Hammer caught the ball and fired to first to complete a double play. Zach Van Dyke was caught looking at a third strike for the final out.
    All is certainly not lost for the Tigers (15-2). The ultimate goal of a state championship remains in reach. Rising Sun is the top seed in the local section. On Monday, May 12, the Tigers will host the winner of Friday's North East-Harford Tech game.

Rising Sun 9, Patterson Mill 0
    Chris Melrath fanned four to earn the shutout win. Zach Van Dyke delivered four hits and Tommy Stover added three. Adam Janney, Daniel Richardson, and Sean Goodie each added a pair of hits.