DEERFIELD — Max Edwards came to the mound in a precarious situation for Frontier Alber Hearing Services at Headmasters’ Field on Friday.
Protecting a four-run lead against Amherst in the PVYBL Mickey Mantle playoffs, Edwards got the call with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth inning.
Edwards got three straight outs for Frontier, helping preserve a 6-2 win over Amherst to advance to the Mickey Mantle finals.
“I’ve been the closer basically all year for this team,” Edwards said. “Usually I have to come in when it’s a tough situation. It’s a lot of pressure. I came in knowing we had a four-run lead. Coming in, I was nervous but also confident that my defense would make the plays behind me.”
Edwards got Ty Gladu and Mickey Maroulis to fly out before striking out Braedan Tudryn to get out of the inning.
“Max pitched outstanding,” Frontier coach Tony Martino said. “Bases loaded. No outs. That’s a save for him. He has pitched phenomenal all season. Anytime we have asked him to come in he’s always ready.”
Frontier will have Gehrig Brynda on full rest for the finals, who is the likely starter, according to Martino.
West County beat Northampton, 7-6, on Friday to force another game for a chance at the finals at 10 a.m. in Deerfield.
Frontier will face the winner back at Headmasters’ Field at 1 p.m. Frontier’s opponent will have to win twice today in the double-elimination format to claim the championship.
Tyler Baranowski picked up the win for Frontier. Baranowski pitched into the sixth, allowing allowing seven hits and two runs with a strikeout.
Frontier pitching pitched to contact the whole game, letting the defense make plays.
“Both these guys (Edwards, Baranowski) throw very good curve balls,” Martino said. “They are very smart. We preach being smart and using your head in the game.”
Edwards helped out Baranowski on defense in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Amherst’s Nate Mills laced a pitch down the third base line.
Edwards gloved it to take away extra bases and multiple runs for Frontier.
Ben Zaranek went 3-for-3 with three singles for Frontier.
“I was seeing the ball really well,” Zaranek said. “The first two at bats I just got straight stuff and could turn on it easily.”
Amherst jumped out early to a lead in the game when Tudryn led off with a double before Nate Mills brought him home with an RBI double.
Another run scored for Amherst on Andrew Ciaglo’s sacrifice fly in the first inning.
Baranowski, Edwards and the defense held Amherst scoreless for the rest of the game.
Frontier took advantage of four walks and a wild pitch to score four runs in the bottom of the second inning.
Kyle Barnes drew a walk to score a run before Ben Martino’s RBI single made the score 3-2.
Edwards and Martino both had two hits for Frontier.
Kevin Baumann grabbed an RBI when he got plunked to up the Frontier lead to 4-2.
Tom Alber knocked in a run with an RBI single in the third for Frontier. Two more runs scored for Frontier in the second and the third inning on a wild pitch and a throwing error by Amherst.
JB Mills had two hits with a stolen base for Amherst.
Gladu took the loss on the mound for Amherst, with Nate Mills and Judah Katz pitching in relief.
Katz did not allow a run in three innings of work, giving up three hits. Maroulis, Tyler Boisvert, and Ciaglo all had hits for Amherst.
