BY JEFF FALK

ELIZABETHVILLE – The base paths are a terrible place to strand a season. Because if you don’t come home enough, well then you’ll have to go home for good.

On Monday evening at Upper Dauphin, in the opening round of the District Three Class AA playoffs, missed opportunities proved to be Annville-Cleona’s downfall, as the Little Dutchmen endured a 4-3 season-ending setback at the hands of the home-standing Trojans. Annville-Cleona left 13 runners on base throughout the contest, including the maximum of nine through the first three innings of play.

The loss ended the ninth-seeded Little Dutchmen’s campaign at 10-12. Upper Dauphin, the eight-seeded, advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinal round with a 12-9 overall mark.

The contest was delayed 30 minutes for lightning in the top of the second inning.

“We left 13 runners on base, and 26 in the last two games,” said Annville-Cleona head coach Scott Shyda, referring to an earlier 6-5 loss to Hempfield in the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs. “You can’t do that. You’re not going to win games that way. We just couldn’t get that one key hit.

“I thought we had a chance to make noise in the district playoffs,” Shyda continued. “But credit to their (the Trojans’) pitching. They got outs when they needed them. I would’ve liked to get all 13 of those runners in. It’s disappointing to be that close and not to have them get in.”

Ironically, after stranding a baker’s dozen on the bases, the Little Dutchmen had their campaign ended by a runner being thrown out attempting to steal second.

Annville-Cleona had pulled to within 4-3 of the Trojans on Noah Connor’s two-out RBI-single in the top of the seventh inning. Connor drove home pinch-runner Tanner Hoch, who had reached third on a wild pitch and balk, after Isaac Woelfling had opened the frame with a single.

“It would’ve been nice to get that (potential) tying run in scoring position,” said Shyda. “He’s (Connor) just trying to be aggressive. He’s just trying to make something happen. I actually considered trying to steal there.

“We got what we expected,” added Shyda. “They’re (the Trojans) solid. They deserved to win.”

After spotting Upper Dauphin three runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Little Dutchmen had very little trouble getting runners on base. They finally broke through in the top of the third, with Woelfling’s run-scoring single with no outs, after Colton Long had singled and Mitch Long walked.

It stayed 3-1 until the top of the sixth, when Annville-Cleona plated its second run. Alec Barr and Hunter Long both singled, ahead of Mitch Long’s RBI-single.

But Upper Dauphin scored what would prove to be a very important insurance run in the bottom of the same frame, thanks to a Little Dutchmen error.

“I’m not disappointed. But stuff happens,” said Shyda. “At whatever point the season ends, it’s a big disappointment. I’ll miss them (his players). You get to see them everyday. You get to know them.

“Regardless of the outcome, I’m blessed to spend every day with them,” Shyda continued. “No matter how the season goes, there’s positives. I’m disappointed for the kids. I’m disappointed we lost and that we didn’t have a better showing today. But I don’t look back and see our season as a failure.”

Annville-Cleona, which ended up out hitting Upper Dauphin 10-6, left the bases loaded in each of its first three at-bats. Three of the Trojans’ hits came in the first inning against Little Dutchmen starter Colton Long.

“I’ve got to credit Colton,” said Shyda. “He gave up three quick runs, but he kept us in the game. He wasn’t at his best today. His curve-ball wasn’t working as well today. But he’s such a competitor. Even when he’s not at his best he competes.

“It was a no-brainer for me to start him,” added Shyda. “He’s our senior leader and our number-one pitcher. He’s the guy you want out there when you want to win a game.”

In going the distance, Long struck out seven and walked three.

“What stands out to me about the first inning was that it was 3-0, not 13-0,” said Shyda. “We have six innings left. We were still playing for a run early. But the end result is a 4-3 loss.

“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make leagues and make districts, and see what happens,” continued Shyda. “I’m not sure we all believe we realized our potential. We started 5-0. We did play some good games, but we certainly didn’t play as well in the second half of the season.”

To purchase images in this article email jkfalk2005@yahoo.com, or to see more go to www.http://lebanonsportsbuzz.com/gallery-nine/.

Annville-Cleona 2015 Results

 District Three

 Final Class AA Power Rankings

 AA School W L T Rating

1 Lancaster Catholic 16- 4- 0 0.663018

2 Camp Hill 15- 4- 0 0.656147

3 Oley Valley 14- 5- 0 0.623767

4 Delone Catholic 13- 7- 0 0.580549

5 York Catholic 11- 5- 0 0.577288

6 Susquenita 13- 4- 0 0.577214

7 Brandywine Heights Area 12- 7- 0 0.543111

8 Upper Dauphin Area 11- 8- 0 0.470593

9 Annville Cleona 10- 10- 0 0.461866

10 Tulpehocken 9- 11- 0 0.459339

11 Biglerville 9- 11- 0 0.452488

12 Kutztown Area 6- 13- 0 0.413171

13 Columbia 8- 12- 0 0.410454

14 Trinity 4- 12- 0 0.398368

15 Fairfield 5- 12- 1 0.373932

16 Pequea Valley 5- 15- 0 0.347671

17 Hanover 2- 15- 0 0.300527

18 Lancaster Mennonite 3- 17- 0 0.291963

19 Schuylkill Valley 0- 18- 0 0.280328

Lancaster-Lebanon League

 Final Section 4 Standings