By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Brandywine's Aaron Saltsman picked an opportune time to hit the first home run of his career. The second one was even better timing.
With Brandywine's 12-year-olds losing 4-2 to Buchanan in the second inning of Monday's Little League Division B game at Eaton Park, Saltsman stepped to the plate. He took the first pitch he saw, the first of the inning, over the left field wall for a solo home run.
It wasn't the only pitch of the game to Saltsman's liking.
Brandywine tied the game at four in the third inning. In the fourth, the team loaded the bases with no outs.
A single by Cameron Smallmon scored Zack Edquist, putting Brandywine up by a run. After a strike out and a pop out, the bases were still loaded with two outs for Saltsman.
After fouling off a couple pitches, Saltsman unloaded and hit the ball over the fence in dead centerfield for a grand slam. His second homer of the game put his team up 9-4.
Two home runs and five RBIs would make a good night, but Saltsman wasn't done yet.
In the fifth inning, Saltsman came to the plate again with the bases loaded. He doubled to the gap in left-center field, sending two runners home. The runs put Brandywine up 14-4, ending the game on the 10-run mercy rule.
Saltsman finished the game 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double and seven RBIs.
As a team, Brandywine put on an offensive show. There were plenty of other All-Stars whose performances would have stood out had it not been for Saltsman's fireworks.
Zack Edquist went 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Derek Nichols was 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Smallmon also went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
After the top of the first inning, it looked as though the game would be a blowout in Buchanan's favor. Buchanan jumped ahead 4-0 with just one out in the game.
But Brandywine's pitching settled down and its offense rattled off 10 straight runs to stay alive in the Eaton Park tournament.
Tyler Ganus went 2-for-3 to lead Buchanan at the plate. Richie Reed, Tyler Alexander, David Sokolowski and Adam Byrdak scored Buchanan's runs.
Brandywine plays at 8 p.m. Thursday in the semifinal of the Little League Division B loser's bracket.
In other games Monday:
Peanut League
Division A
South Haven……………….12
Howard Township No. 1….7
Howard took a three-run lead early, but South Haven came back in the late innings to win. Tate Brawley homered for Howard.
Minor League
Division A
North Lincoln No.1…………6
Howard Township No. 2…..1
Zack Fillwock hit an RBI triple and Cody Beers doubled for Howard Township.
Division B
Watervliet….11
Buchanan…….1
Dalton Shearer led Buchanan with two hits in the losing cause.
Little League
Division A
South Haven….7
Howard Twp…..3
Jeff Miller, Robert Wagner and Bryan Evans all singled for Howard Township.
Division C
Buchanan………………10
North Lincoln No. 1…..6
Buchanan scored four runs in the top of the eighth to win it. Drew Hearington and Jake Wahlstrom had two RBIs a piece in the victory.