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Fresh off an upset of Spring-Ford, the No. 2 seed in the District 1 - Class 6A playoffs, Avon Grove looked to ride the momentum to a berth in the semifinal round on Friday with a win over Downingtown East. 

The Red Devils scored four times in the top of the second inning, highlighted by a two-RBI single off the bat of outfielder Andrew Brady, a Massachusetts recruit. Downingtown East turned to 2020 lefty Grant Umberger to try to minimize the damage. Umberger, who will play in the 2018 PBR Future Games as a member of Team Pennsylvania, got out of the 2nd inning without further damage and gave the Cougars a chance to come back. The sophomore worked 4.2 scoreless innings before handing the ball off to 2019 righty Michael Defant in the 7th with his team trailing 4-3.

Defant worked a clean 7th striking out two of the three batters he faced, setting up a dramatic bottom of the inning. 

A pair of hit batters sandwiched around a sacrifice bunt place the tying and go ahead runs on board with just one out. Senior Joe Jerrick singled to right to load the bases and senior Matt Szepanski followed with a game tying sacrifice fly to right field. With two outs senior shortstop Tommy Hammett lined a single into left field scoring Austin Taylor with the winning run leading to a dog pile at second base.

Walk off in Downingtown. @DEastBaseball comes back from 4-0 deficit to win 5-4 on a two-out single by 2018 SS Tommy Hammett. #ROADTOMEDLAR pic.twitter.com/pO8v5VmaOL

— PBR Pennsylvania (@pbrpennsylvania) May 25, 2018

Hammett, Albert Choi, and Mike Rodriguez each had two hits for the Cougars. The Red Devils were lead by Bryce Carey with three hits including a double. Brady and Andrew Nole each had two hits.

With the win Downington East moves on to the semifinals for a date with Council Rock North on Tuesday. The win also secures a state playoff berth for the Cougars. Avon Grove falls into the play back bracket where they will meet Downingtown West on Tuesday. With two wins Avon Grove would secure a state playoff berth as well.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
2018 Western PA Top Prospect Games (INVITE ONLY)	PA	06/12	Seton Hill University
2018 Eastern PA Top Prospect Games (INVITE ONLY)	PA	06/19	Millersville University
Clash of the Titans Tournament Scout Day	PA	06/24	War Memorial Field - Ephrata, PA
Northeastern Pennsylvania Summer Review	PA	06/26	Misericordia University
Southern West Virginia College Prospect Showcase - 6.27.18	PA	06/27	University of Charleston - Triana Field
2018 Eastern PA College Prospect Showcase	PA	07/10	Millersville University
Eastern Panhandle College Prospect Showcase - 7.11.18	PA	07/11	Potomac State College
2018 PBR Future Games (Pennsylvania Invite Only)	PA	08/01	Grand Park - Westfield, IN
PBR Junior Future Games (Invite Only)	NATIONAL	08/02	Grand Park - Westfield, IN
2018 Fall Kickoff Showcase	PA	08/16	Millersville University
Play for Team PBR (Fall Kickoff Tournament)	PA	08/17	Millersville University
Northern West Virginia College Prospect Showcase - 8.26.18	PA	08/26	Wheeling Jesuit University

 

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