Midwest pitcher, Justin Kraemer, throws a pitch in front of a crowded Lamade Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Attendance was estimated at over 23,000 people for the game. (Photo Sam Hurst/IDS)
For the first time in their young All-Star season, the boys from Harney were not the favorites; they were David. Warner Robins, Georgia, who was making their third World Series appearance in five years, played the role of Goliath, and on Saturday afternoon Goliath took down David 6-3.
Georgia jumped ahead of the South Dakota All-Stars in the first inning using plate discipline and some long ball courtesy of Jake Fromm. Starting pitcher Cameron Fees hit the first batter and walked another to bring Fromm to the plate with only one out in the inning.
Fromm, who had struggled at the plate in Georgia’s opening round game against Louisiana, took a first pitch fastball and hit a booming home run to center field to put the Southeast team up 3-0.
“Georgia is a great team and they’ve been here quite a few times,” said South Dakota manager Kasey McGriff after the game. “He (Fromm) is one of the better bats I’ve seen and he’s a talented, big, young twelve-year old.”
Fromm drove in his fourth run of the game on a long, sacrifice fly that Harney center fielder Erik Petry caught at the top of the wall, just shy of another home run. Georgia extended their lead again in the fifth inning off reliever Justin Kraemer with two more runs on a bases loaded double that just got by South Dakota third baseman Brett Beyer.
Down 6-0 and facing their final inning of play, the Harney All-Stars put together a late charge that proved to be too little, too late.
Kraemer, who gave up three runs in his three innings of work on the mound, started the inning with a single through the left side for his first hit of the game. After two passed balls moved Kraemer to third, Hayden McGriff then stepped in and delivered a laser that went over the head of the Georgia shortstop to drive in Kraemer. McGriff hustled out of the box and slid into second under the tag to bring up Beyer.
Beyer gave the Harney faithful something to cheer about with a two run home run to left field that cut the Georgia lead to three and ended the day for pitcher Logan Arnett.
With the momentum shifting towards the Midwest champs, Georgia brought Fromm to the mound from first. He set Harney batters down 1-2-3 to end the game.
The loss puts the South Dakota All-Stars at 0-2 in the tournament and moves them out of contention for a World Series title. The loss also ends a magical run that started more than a month ago, spanning three cities and states.
Kasey McGriff told the players after the game to “be proud of themselves and keep their heads high. Relish the moment that they are here with all of these fans (23,000+ on Saturday) and to not be disappointed in themselves.”
Harney will play in a consolation game against Aruba North on Monday at 10 a.m. MDT for their last game in Williamsport.
What a thrill to see you all on ABC-TV today and to enjoy that last-inning rally. Congratulations on all you have accomplished. People statewide in South Dakota (and former South Dakotans across the nation) have been following your exploits and cheering you on from long distance. Enjoy the rest of the ride and thanks for giving us something we desperately needed to have to cheer about.
Can’t say it much better than Parker above. You guys and your coaches have been a class act all the way through, and in the end, as much as any true competitor always wants to win the immediate game, you are winners in the most important ways. Keep your heads high and your character as strong as you have demonstrated on this journey. You are loved!