DISTRICT 16 LITTLE LEAGUE: Valley East majors play ‘small ball' to claim title
BUTLER TWP. - It is the previously slumping star's three-run homer or the rookie slugger's blast to the upper deck that will get the airtime on ESPN's SportsCenter, as if they're always the difference between winning and losing a baseball game.
Seldom seen are examples of "small ball:" the batted balls that travel a few feet at the most, a perfectly placed bunt, a well-timed infield single - all out of the reach of opposing fielders - plus patience at the plate against an ace pitcher and runners hustling around the bases.
Valley East ‘s 11-12-year-old all-stars put on a clinic of the latter in a come-from-behind, 3-2 win over Mountain Top in the District 16 Little League Major Division championship game Sunday at Theory Field.
Trailing, 2-1, against Mountain Top star righthander Eli Metz, Valley East didn't have one of its four struck balls reach the outfield grass in the bottom of the fifth inning. Yet, its placement of all four, mixed in with a walk and its speed and alertness on the basepaths enabled Valley East to push across the tying and eventual title-clinching runs.
"We did just enough to get it done," said winning manager Jeff Richards, whose team avenged a 5-4 loss to Mountain Top earlier in the tournament. "Our bats have been a little quiet, so we had to play a little bit of small ball. I mean, Eli Metz is an unbelievable pitcher for Mountain Top. We knew we were gonna be tested by him. Anything we could take, we were gonna take it."
Mountain Top's Parker Wise, whose solo home run tied the game at 1 in the top of the second, sparked his team's go-ahead rally in the fifth. He led off with a double down the left field line, took third on a wild pitch and came home on Bo Galella's groundout. Chris Smith then reached on an error, but Valley East starting pitcher Caden Winder struck out the next two batters to keep his team within striking distance.
Rex Molinaro started the bottom half with a bunt single. When the throw to first base went awry, Molinaro easily raced to second with the tying run.
"Rex Molinaro is one of the best baseball players you're ever gonna find," Richards said. "I knew he was gonna get that bunt down. He's just SO fast and puts so much pressure on the defense. It was almost like a foregone conclusion that he was gonna make it. I never had any doubt in my mind that it was the right spot for him to get that bunt down."
Bryce Testa followed with a beauty of a sacrifice bunt, sending Molinaro to third. Damian Guzman then walked for the second time in the game to put runners on the corners with one out.
With TJ Grego at bat, a wild pitch chased Molinaro home and Guzman to second. Grego's contact on a 1-1 pitch produced an infield single and again gave Valley East runners at first and third with still only one out. Luke Isaacson then tapped Metz's second pitch to him a mere 6 inches in front of home plate. Galella, the Mountain Top catcher, made a nice play to retire Isaacson at first base, but Guzman beat the throw back home to give Valley East back the lead at 3-2. It didn't need any more runs.
Valley East's Isaac Richards, a hard-throwing lefthander, relieved Winder in the top of the sixth. He immediately ran into trouble when Jaxon Kepping was safe on an error and went to second on a wild pitch. But Richards set down the next three Mountain Top batters to send Valley East into the Section 5 tournament on its home field starting next Saturday.
"Caden (Winder) is one of the best catchers you're going to find in this area," Jeff Richards said. "To take him out from behind the plate and kind of piece it together with the other guys that we know can play catcher was a big risk. … Today was the day to put the ball in his hands (pitch) and go get a district championship for this team."
Winder allowed only four hits, struck out eight and walked none over the first five innings to pick up the win. The younger Richards was credited with the save.
Metz scattered five hits, fanned seven and walked four over five innings. Of the three runs he gave up, only two were earned, including one on Isaac Richards' RBI double in the bottom of the first.
"I think Eli Metz is the best (Little League) player in the whole area," Mountain Top manager Tom Kepping said. "He pitched a great game and all of our kids gave it everything they had. … Hats off to those guys (Valley East) and good luck to them."
For Kepping and Mountain Top assistant coach Jesse Grobelny, the day represented a homecoming of sorts. Both were actively involved in youth sports in the Hazleton area.
"It was an emotional day for me," Kepping said. "I played here when I was young. I coached here. My dad's sign is here (on the outfield fence)."
There also was the matter of saying goodbye to a group of Mountain Top 12-year-olds he's grown close to over the years since moving to that part of Luzerne County.
"Some of these kids have been playing with us since they were 5 years old," Kepping said. "They've been really dedicated to this program here. You'll still see them around. They'll continue to be around every year. They love our community. They love the fan atmosphere of Mountain Top. Our community is a great community."
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 1:02 AM.