Media keeps its Little League World Series run alive with a 5-3 win over Maine

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Media needed some clutch play Saturday afternoon in order to avoid elimination in the Little League World Series.

Enter Nate Saleski.

With two on in the top of the sixth, Saleski, the grandson of former Flyer Don Saleski, laced a tiebreaking base hit down the left-field line to bring home Cole Carroll. Charles Haenn then scored on a passed ball to add an insurance run, and Trevor Skowronek shut down Gray, Maine, in the bottom half of the inning to seal the 5-3 win Saturday afternoon at Howard J. Lamade Stadium.

“It was awesome, but I didn’t realize until a few seconds later what I just did,” said Saleski who went 2-for-3 on Saturday in front of 22,809 fans. “I was more worried about advancing to the next base, but it was really cool.”

Six players — Saleski, Skowronek, Christian Nunez, Rhys Muessig, Carroll, and Haenn — recorded hits on the afternoon for the Delaware County squad. Skowronek also notched two RBIs with a two-run single.

Manager Tom Bradley was pleased with his team’s relaxed approach Saturday, as the Delco team reduced its strikeout number from Game 1 by half.

“We tried to attack [Maine pitcher Mason Amergian early],” Bradley said. “We’re a fastball hitting team that a lot of teams throw curve balls [to] so we got to know when the fastball’s coming and jump on it. … We did a pretty good job today. What we have five strikeouts? That’s pretty good.”

Nolan Gratton struck out seven across 4⅓ innings while giving up three runs on six hits to earn a no-decision. Skowronek came on in the fifth and earned the win, striking out one in 1⅔ innings.

“I was really nervous when I was out there,” Skowronek said of his relief appearance. “I mean, after [the game ended], I felt great and was really excited that we got our first win.”

For Maine, Gage Rioux and Amergian each had two hits, with Amergian singling in the tying run in the fourth. He also was Maine’s pitcher and allowed five runs (three earned) with five strikeouts over seven innings.

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Coming off its last outing in which it combined for one run on three hits while going 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, Media’s offense broke through early against Amergian.

Skowronek put the Delco team on the board in the first inning as he drove in Saleski and Austin Crowley. Two batters later, Nunez singled in Gratton with his third hit of the tournament.

For Skowronek, it was his ninth RBI dating back to the Mid-Atlantic Regional last week in Bristol, Conn.

“Honestly, I kind of just think up there and say to myself, ‘Get on base no matter what’ and try to do damage,’” Skowronek said of his mentality at the plate in big moments.

» READ MORE: Media manager Tom Bradley: ‘We’re out there to have fun’

But that wouldn’t be enough to get comfortable, as Maine got two of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning.

Gratton settled in, however, and retired eight consecutive hitters.

Amergian’s game-tying single was the third of three consecutive singles with two outs in the fourth.

Carroll led off with a bloop single to begin Media’s sixth-inning rally before a bunt base hit from Haenn set up Saleski. Saleski, the Media catcher, also contributed defensively, throwing out Maine’s Grant Brann trying to steal second in the sixth.

“Normally kids don’t steal at this age because you have to leave when the ball crosses the plate, which is hard,” Saleski said. “At first, I thought he was going to fake steal and try to draw a throw, [but] then I realized he was really going and I just threw it.”

Media will be back in action Sunday at Lamade Stadium (11 a.m., ESPN) against Smithsville, R.I., the Metro Regional champion.