Back Mountain Holds Off Mountain Top Rally, Advances to Section 5 Championship Showdown
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | July 17, 2026 | Photo courtesy Team submission
Back Mountain Holds Off Mountain Top Rally, Advances to Section 5 Championship Showdown
MOUNTAIN TOP — One night after an offensive slugfest, Thursday’s Section 5 9-11 Tournament semifinal delivered a different kind of thriller.
Back Mountain Little League jumped out to an early lead and withstood a determined comeback by Mountain Top Little League to claim a 7-5 victory, advancing to Friday’s Section 5 Championship against Green Ridge Little League at Mountain Top Little League.
Back Mountain wasted little time getting on the board, plating four runs in the opening inning. Matthew D. started the scoring with an RBI single before Antonio R. drew a bases-loaded walk. Marco S. followed with an RBI single, and Jaxon P. added another run with a fielder’s choice to stake District 32 to a 4-0 advantage.
Back Mountain extended its lead to 5-0 in the second inning when Maxton M. lifted a sacrifice fly to center.
Mountain Top refused to go quietly.
The District 16 champions chipped away with single runs in the second and third innings before mounting one final push in the sixth. Trailing by five entering their final at-bat, Mountain Top scored three runs behind a string of quality at-bats, cutting the deficit to 7-5 before Back Mountain recorded the final out to seal the victory.
Although Mountain Top finished with a 14-6 advantage in hits, Back Mountain capitalized on its scoring opportunities, drew seven walks, and played flawless defense without committing an error.
Tim T. earned the win on the mound for Back Mountain, allowing two runs over 4⅔ innings while scattering nine hits. Maddox Z. and Hunter S. combined to record the final four outs and preserve the victory.
Andrew Petros started for Mountain Top, striking out three over 3⅔ innings. Noah Sorber provided solid relief as Mountain Top continued to battle until the final inning.
With the win, Back Mountain advances to Friday’s Section 5 Championship Game, where it will face District 32 top seed Green Ridge Little League with a berth in the Pennsylvania State Tournament on the line.
Mountain Top closes its impressive postseason run after capturing the District 16 championship and battling into the Section 5 semifinals, capping off an outstanding summer.
Top Performers
Back Mountain Little League
- Max G. — 2-for-3, 2 RBI.
- Tim T. — Winning pitcher (4⅔ IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 2 K) while drawing two walks and scoring twice.
- Matthew D. — RBI single and scored a run.
- Marco S. — RBI single and scored once.
Mountain Top Little League
- Matthew Dutrow — 2-for-3.
- William Gagliardi — 2-for-3, RBI.
- Andrew Petros — 2-for-3, scored a run.
- Matthew Hummel — 2-for-2, double, RBI.
- Ashton Cook — Double, RBI, scored a run.
Next Up: Back Mountain and Green Ridge square off tonight at 6 p.m. in an all-District 32 Section 5 Championship matchup with a trip to the Pennsylvania State Tournament at stake.
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