A 16‑Inning Battle for the Section 1 Crown
The contest began at 1:43 p.m. on a humid Thursday, but it would not end until 6:29 p.m., a span of four hours and 46 minutes that tested the endurance of every player on the field.
Pleasantville drew first blood in the fourth inning, plating a run that would stand as their only score of the night, while Byram Hills answered with a solitary run of its own to knot the game at 1‑1.
Relief Pitchers Steal the Show
Pleasantville’s reliever Henry Reed logged nine consecutive scoreless frames, a feat that kept the pressure on the Hilltoppers, while Byram Hills’ own Logan Verna matched the effort with eight shutout innings of his own.
The deadlock finally broke in the 16th inning when Nate Khaldarov drove in the decisive run with a timely RBI single, sending the Byram Hills bench into celebration as the final out was recorded.
State Tournament Awaits
With the title secured, the Hilltoppers now turn their attention to the state tournament, opening play next weekend at Cantine Field in Saugerties, New York, where they will face the champion of the neighboring Section 2.