A pair of unearned runs in the top of the eighth proved to be the difference as Connellsville defeated Plum, 2-0, on Friday in the first round of the Region 6 Senior American Legion playoffs at Chippewa Park.
Plum falls to the loser’s bracket and will play at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. It will need to win three straight to reach Tuesday afternoon’s championship game.
Only the regional champion advances to states.
Connellsville broke through in the eighth as a leadoff walk and an error put two runners on base. A sacrifice fly with one out gave Connellsville all the runs it would need, and it added an insurance run later in the frame.
Plum was not able to answer in the bottom of the eighth as it went down in order.
Jared Hoener put Plum on the brink of victory in the bottom of the seventh as he doubled with one out. But the next two Plum batters were not able to bring him home.
Brody Simmons pitched into the eighth for Plum. He had a no-hitter going until Connellsville’s Kyle Ridley recorded a single in the sixth.
Simmons gave up just the one hit and walked two while striking out nine.
Simmons and AJ Collins added singles for Plum off of Connellsville starter Austin Petraglia, who went the distance and struck out seven.
