Greencastle 11-12 defeated Shippensburg 6-2 in nine innings Thursday night at Newville but the final score is no indication of what hat happened through the first eight innings.Dominant pitching by both teams kept the game scoreless until the eighth inning.

Shippensburg starter Blake Truett went the first 4 2/3 innings before leaving when his pitch count reached 85 in the fifth. Levi Macicjewski relived and pitched four strong innings before departing with two outs in the ninth inning, The two combined to strike out 20 Greencastle batters,

Greencastle starter Jeremiah Murray  went the first 6 1/3 innings for Greencastle allowing no runs on three hits, walking two, striking out six. Eli Wingert followed with 2 2/3 innings of one hit relief, striking out three.

Pitching was dominant, both Greencastle and Shippensburg mounted a few threats but were unable to score through seven innings.

Both teams took advantage of a new Little League rule where a runner is placed at second base to start each half inning if the game reaches eight innings. In the top eighth inning Bradyn Knable started the inning at second, Eli Wingert followed with a single moving Knable to third  Tucker Mongan laced the first pitch to right field scoring Knable to give Greencastle a 1-0 lead.

Shippensburg got the run back in the bottom of the inning. Mason Norris was placed at second, went to third on a ground out and scored on a passed ball to tie the game.

In the top of the ninth Jason Barkdoll was placed at second base, Eli Buhrman singled advancing Barkdoll to third, then Nic Paris got the game winning hit with a two run double giving Greencastle a 3-1 lead , it was Greencastle’s only extra base hit of the game. RBI singles by Knable and Wingert and an error pushed the lead to 6-1.

Greencastle will play the winner of the Shippensburg- Carlisle game on Saturday on Monday night at Newville at 7:00 p.m, A Greencastle win will give them their third straight District 14 championship. A loss would force a deciding game on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast on Mid Penn Broadcasting.

Greencastle 9-10 defeated South Middleton 16-4 and will play Monday night at 7:00 against either Shippensburg or South Middleton.

Greencastle Senior League was eliminated with a 5-2 loss to Downingtown West.