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The Japanese team downed the Mon Yough squad 21-10, but all the players knew that this game was not about winning or losing.
'We stuck with them,' said M-Y manager Eddie Weckoski Jr. of his team. 'They were very well prepared. Baseball is a big part of their lives. They are well disciplined and very well mannered. But this was a great experience for everyone involved.'
After Japan got off to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first evening, Rob Ramsey (Belle Vernon) took an 0-2 pitch from Koki Suda deep for the games lone home run.
'He threw the pitch right down the middle,' said Ramsey of the offering that he hit over the centerfield wall. 'I am honored that I was picked to play in the game. This was a great opportunity. We had a blast.'
Trailing 9-1 in the bottom of the second inning, Mon Yough trimmed the deficit to 9-3. After getting a single, Adam Barone (Monongahela) scored on a double by Jarred Podrosky (Belle Vernon). Joey Weckoski (Charleroi) then drove in Podrosky with a double of his own.
Ed Weckoski Sr., a Pennsylvania Field Director for the PONY Baseball, was happy with Barone, who was the starting pitcher for the Mon Yough team.
'Adam pitched real well in his two innings,' said Weckoski Sr. 'If we could have cut down on errors, they wouldn't have scored nine runs. Five were directly off of errors.'
'I am honored that the coaches had the faith in me to use me as the starting pitcher,' said Barone. 'This was such an experience.'
Mon Yough did not score again until the sixth inning when Ryan Godsey (Monongahela) scored on a Matt Rowland (Belle Vernon) single.
The hosts cut the score to 21-10 in the last inning when they scored six runs. Chris Harris (Donora) got things rolling with a double. He then scored on a single by Ross Bowker (Monongahela). After an RBI fielder's choice by Rick Bartman (Monongahela), Jus-tin Deutsch (Charleroi) drove in two runs with a double. Adam Ziwi (Monongahela) followed with an RBI double of his own and then scored on an RBI single by Zach Neil (Charleroi).
Weckoski Jr. made note of Ramsey and Harris, who kept the Japanese team at bay.
'They both pitched really well,' said Weckoski. 'All of our pitchers did a good job, but Ramsey only gave two hits and no runs and Harris only gave up one hit and one unearned run.'
Both Ramsey and Harris pitched two innings.
'The score is not indicative of how our kids played,' said Weckoski Sr. 'Our kids really battled. Besides, we did a lot better than the North Allegheny team that this Japanese team played. They lost 23-2.'
The highlight of the game came in the fifth inning when Yoshihiro Ishimine came in to pitch and struck out all three batters he faced on nine total pitches.
'That was amazing,' said Weckoski Sr. 'Yoshio Oda (the interpreter) told me that Coach (Hachirou) Takahara didn't even use his fastest pitcher.'
Ishimine was clocked at 84 MPH, which is the equivalent to a 91 MPH from a Major League distance mound, according to the PONY representatives at the game.
Jun Kato went 4-for-5 for the winners, and Masumi Oayama added five RBI.
'This was a wonderful experience for us,' said Joey Weckoski. 'Just seeing them warm up was a thrill. They stretched out and ran for an hour before they picked up a ball. We got to learn a lot about the Japanese culture just by playing them. I will remember this forever.'
'The whole Japanese contingent is a class act,' said Weckoski Sr. 'This was wonderful. This is the most extraordinary game that I have ever been associated with.'
'We are very honored to take part in a game like this,' said Takahara, through his interpreter Oda. 'Mon Yough was excellent hosts. They made us feel at home.'
