'Dream Team' Falls Short
Cameron County All-Stars Lose Championship Game

The looks on the faces of (from left), Cory Reed, Garrett Hornung and Jordan Crane tell the story. The 15and 16-year-old Cameron County Little League AllStars made it to the doorstep of a state championship, but suffered a heartbreaking loss to Montoursville. The athletes now are being heralded as heroes, despite the loss. Their talent and success brought the community together in a way that has not been witnessed here before.

The Cameron County 15-16 year old All-Stars lost to Montoursville in the Championship game Monday afternoon 11-3 but the second place finish that they earned is something that the team will never forget. They didn't give in even though they faced a 70 deficit after two innings.

Cameron Clingan took the hill for the local team but didn't make it out of the first inning as the visitors scored five quick runs.

Clingan was pitching on one day's rest and just couldn't get the usual fastball movement he has and after all the innings he has pitched throughout high school, legion and little league seasons nobody could blame him for a tired arm. Clingan is a warrior and will bounce back and his effort should be admired by all.

After Montoursville took a seven run lead after two innings, the locals rallied to score three runs in their half of the third inning. Matt Kriner had a one out double and base hits by Garrett Hornung, Jordan Crane, Josh Strahl and Sean McManigle all lead to the three runs and cut the visitors lead to 4 runs but that would be all the stars from Cameron County would score.

Cory Reed and Mike Baker both pitched in the loss and did a very good job for Cameron. Baker is the lone player who could return next year for the 15-16 year olds so the experience should do him good.

For Montoursville Mark Schock had a pair of two-run homers and Mike Hanner, the winning pitcher, had a solo homer for the champs. Travis Heap had a two out two run double in the first inning to put a damper on the Cameron squads hopes.

Both teams were given a hero's ride through Emporium by the Fire Department for their efforts on the field.

CC 8 Weston Park 1

Cameron County had to defeat Weston Park Sunday night in the loser's bracket to even get a chance to face Montoursville and did so in dominating fashion. David Lyon pitched a beauty for the locals as he through a one hitter to get t his team to the championship finals.

Weston Park, out of the Scranton area, scored their only run in the first on a walk and two ground outs along with a wild pitch.

Lyon shut them down the rest of the way and Cameron would score enough runs in the second inning to end WP hopes of a championship appearance.

Abram Zoschg, Kriner and Hornung all had run scoring singles in the second inning and Lyon hit a sacrifice fly to plate another run. Weston Park also helped with an error to plate another Cameron run.

In the Cameron fourth Kriner reached on a strikeout pitch that got by the catcher and Crane singled. Clingan then deposited a fastball over the right center field fence into the Cameron Crazies and gave them the eventual final score of 8-1.

Montoursville 3 CC 2

Montoursville put the locals in the loser's bracket Sunday afternoon with a very hard fought 3-2 victory. Cameron County led the game 2-0 with single runs in both the first and second innings.

Hornung led the game off for Cameron with a blast over the right center field fence and give them a 1-0 lead after one inning. Mike Baker walked in the second inning and Hornung drove him home with a sacrifice fly for a 20 lead. It appeared that those two runs might stand up as Jordan Crane was hitting his spots and was holding the Montoursville team at bay with some very good defense behind him.

The visitors from the Williamsport area showed why they were in the State tourney and bounced back with a run in the fourth on three singles. With Crane tiring and not much pitching experience other than Lyon and Clingan the locals stayed with him. A couple hit batters mixed in with a hit and a walk Montoursville scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth and it would stand up for the 3-2 win.

CC9 Highlands 5

Clingan started on the mound Saturday afternoon for Cameron and picked another win. The local stars scored a run in both the first and second innings again to take a 2-0 lead. Hornung once again scored the first run after he singled and Lyon doubled to drive him home. Baker singled to lead off the second inning and after being sacrificed to second scored on a Kriner single.

Highlands wouldn't quit and came right back to score four runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. The Highland starting pitcher, Jeff Campbell, helped himself out in the fourth with a 3-run homer.

The Cameron stars came back in their half of the fifth with two runs of their own. Lyon singled and later scored on a Clingan single. Crane reached on an error and scored on a McManigle sacrifice Fly. There was still work to be done though as the score still had them down 5-4.

Once again the duo of Hornung and Lyon produced another run. Hornung led off the seventh with a double and Lyon drove him home with a double and tied the score 5-5 after seven and send the game to extra innings.

Cameron County exploded for four runs in the top of the eighth inning. Baker reached on an error and moved up when Reed bunted for a base hit. Zoschg walked to load the bases and it looked good for the Cameron team. But Highland got the next two batters out without giving up a run and it would take a two out hit for the locals. Lyon wouldn't disappoint as he lined a double of the fence in left field to score all three runners and later scored on a Crane single. The score was 9-5 and Clingan shut down Highland, out of the Pittsburgh area, for the Local stars first win of the tourney.