East Side Forces Winner-Take-All Championship Game with 8-2 Victory Over Undefeated Blue Mountain
By: Carrie Miner Yaple | SportzWire | August 3, 2026 | Photo courtesy Justin Bradley
PA State Little League Championship
With their season on the line, East Side delivered its most complete performance of the Pennsylvania State Little League Tournament on Monday, defeating previously unbeaten Blue Mountain 8-2 to force a decisive winner-take-all championship game.
Blue Mountain entered the contest undefeated throughout the state tournament, needing just one more victory to claim the Pennsylvania title. East Side, battling through the elimination bracket after an earlier loss to Blue Mountain, refused to let its championship dreams end, combining dominant pitching, timely hitting and aggressive base running to earn another shot at the state crown.
Ryan Donnelly got the start for East Side, while Anthony Grimminger took the ball for Blue Mountain.
Donnelly Sets the Tone Early
Blue Mountain's offense never found a rhythm against Donnelly in the opening innings.
Max Porrino and Enzo Ritter were retired to begin the game before Chase Goodman struck out, giving Donnelly a quick 10-pitch first inning.
East Side wasted little time taking control.
Leading off the bottom of the first, Donnelly helped his own cause by blasting a double to the wall. After Darren Molineux lined out to third, Cole Warner beat out an infield hit, allowing Donnelly to score the game's first run.
Dillon DiGuilio followed with a base hit before Ryan Hennessey was retired. Paul Cowperthwait then delivered a base hit to center field, while Warner also crossed the plate on a passed ball, giving East Side an early 2-0 advantage.
Defense Keeps Blue Mountain Quiet
Donnelly continued to cruise through the second inning, retiring Ben Ciccone before freezing Grimminger with a full-count curveball for strike three. Jayse Callaghan followed with another out as East Side recorded another perfect inning.
East Side extended the lead in the bottom half.
James Martin reached on a high chopper over the pitcher's head before Colton DiGrazio reached safely when a line drive skipped through the shortstop's glove. Following a passed ball that moved both runners into scoring position, Mike Nolan lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing another run home for a 3-0 lead.
Adam Gazonas ended the inning with a called third strike, but East Side had increased its cushion.
Blue Mountain Threat Turned Away
Blue Mountain mounted its first serious rally in the third inning.
After two quick outs, Ike Schneider legged out an infield single and Judein Marx drew a walk to put two runners aboard.
With a chance to cut into the deficit, Christian Machamer grounded out to end the inning.
East Side appeared poised to break the game open in the bottom of the third.
Donnelly singled, Molineux hammered a double off the wall and Warner worked a walk to load the bases with one out.
But Blue Mountain starter Anthony Grimminger escaped the jam when DiGuilio popped out before Chase Goodman made a spectacular diving catch on Ryan Hennessey's line drive, stranding all three runners and temporarily keeping Blue Mountain within striking distance.
East Side Breaks It Open
Blue Mountain still couldn't solve Donnelly in the fourth.
After Jacob Gombar and Porrino were retired, Ritter singled with two outs and advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Goodman battled through several tough pitches before eventually fouling out to DiGuilio to end the threat.
East Side responded with its biggest inning of the afternoon.
Paul Cowperthwait, Jack Cassidy and James Martin opened the inning with consecutive singles to load the bases with nobody out.
DiGrazio followed with a ground ball that resulted in two runs scoring after Blue Mountain was unable to record the force at second base.
Mike Nolan later hit a fly ball to left that Ben Ciccone caught before doubling Martin off second to end the inning, but East Side had stretched its lead to 5-0.
Blue Mountain Shows Life
Blue Mountain finally broke through in the fifth.
Ben Ciccone worked a leadoff walk and advanced on a wild pitch before Grimminger was retired, moving Ciccone to third.
With Donnelly surpassing 70 pitches, East Side manager Bob Hennessey visited the mound.
Moments later, another wild pitch allowed Ciccone to score Blue Mountain's first run.
Jayse Callaghan followed with a double before Joe Minnick ripped an RBI double into right-center, trimming the deficit to 5-2 and giving Blue Mountain some momentum.
That would prove to be Donnelly's final batter faced as DiGuilio entered in relief.
The move immediately paid off as DiGuilio struck out Owen Borger before retiring Schneider to end the inning.
East Side Responds Immediately
Rather than allowing Blue Mountain's comeback hopes to grow, East Side answered with three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth.
After Pat Corliss singled to open the inning, Blue Mountain turned to Joe Minnick on the mound.
Corliss advanced on a passed ball before Donnelly's high chopper produced the first out.
Another wild pitch moved Corliss to third, and Molineux delivered an RBI single.
Warner followed with another hit before DiGuilio added another base hit that allowed two more runs to score, extending East Side's lead to 8-2.
Closing the Door
Blue Mountain needed one last rally in the sixth, but DiGuilio never allowed it.
Marx grounded out before Machamer went down swinging.
Jacob Gombar then hit a routine ground ball to shortstop, where Pat Corliss fielded it cleanly and fired to first for the final out.
The victory completed East Side's mission, handing Blue Mountain its first loss of the Pennsylvania State Tournament and forcing a winner-take-all championship showdown.
Postgame Reactions
After throwing on consecutive days, winning pitcher Ryan Donnelly credited the defense behind him.
"I had to trust my fielders," Donnelly said. "I felt pumped up and wanted revenge from the last game. I was excited."
Donnelly said East Side entered the championship game full of confidence after an impressive offensive performance the day before.
"We won by a lot yesterday, and our bats never slowed down."
Reliever Dillon DiGuilio said his approach after entering the game was simple.
"Coach told me to pound strikes and throw fastballs," DiGuilio said.
He believes East Side is ready for one more battle.
"We have the talent and the mindset to go out, pitch and drive the ball. We're very confident and excited for the game tomorrow."
Now, after surviving elimination and ending Blue Mountain's unbeaten run, East Side has earned one final opportunity to capture the Pennsylvania State Little League Championship and continue its quest toward the Little League World Series.
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