Team Papio comes from behind again, wins 2016 Fall World Series

Chase Pyke Game Recaps

After dropping the first game of the Fall World Series Friday and rallying back from five runs down to win Sunday, Team Papio came back one last time Tuesday, defeating Team Martir 3-2 to clinch the 2016 Fall World Series.

Team Papio went down early to Team Martir for the third time in the three-game series, surrendering a solo home run to Madison Nickens in the top of the first inning to make the score 1-0. It was the second first inning home run for Nickens in as many games.

Team Papio had an opportunity to respond immediately in the bottom of the inning after loading the bases, but instead went down quietly when Ryan Selmer entered the game in relief of starter Nick Pantos, who only lasted two-thirds of an inning.

A forty-minute first inning was followed by a brief second and third, which saw nine consecutive batters retired between both teams from the top the second to the bottom of the third. Team Papio evened the score in the bottom of the third after Will Watson laid down a perfect bunt down the first base line that allowed him to reach first safely and score Nick Dunn from third.

 

Team Papio took their first lead of the game the very next at bat, as smart base running from Jamal Wade brought the junior across the plate after Team Martir threw out Ty Friedrich at first, who was caught off the base after looping a ball into the right field corner.

Elliot Zoellner pitched two perfect innings for Team Papio after replacing starter Ryan Hill at the end of the first before giving up the tying run in the fourth on a lead-off Kevin Smith home run.

The tie was short-lived as Wade took a Tyler Brandon pitch over the center field wall and a leaping Marty Costes in the bottom of the fourth to give Team Papio the one-run lead and the eventual win.

Team Papio held the lead for the remainder of the game, despite loading the bases for Team Martir in the fifth, thanks in large part to scoreless pitching from Tayler Stiles, Andrew Miller and Mike Rescigno over the game’s final two innings.