It’s not news in the bat and ball sports: Live by your pitching, die by your pitching.
 For five and a third innings the Warrior Run Little League Major baseball All-Stars were living quite well, thank you. Their top ace, Jared Bender, was on the mound and the game was tied 4-4 with one out in the top of the sixth.
Then Bender reached his pitch count, and the wheels fell off. Warrior Run searched, but could not find, a closer and three pitchers and eight runs later, Berwick was ahead 12-4 for what would be the final score of the game.
Warrior Run falls to the elimination bracket and will face the loser of the Danville/South Columbia game at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Ber Vaughn Field in Berwick. Berwick will play Bloomsburg on Sunday.
“It comes down to pitching. When Jared goes on the mound it’s going to be a close game,” said Warrior Run coach Gary Meehan. “You won’t find a more competitive pitcher than Jared Bender.”
Bender did give up two hits to start the game but settled down quickly striking out the last two batters in the first inning stranding one runner.
In the second Warrior Run was in gear retiring the side without a hit.
In the bottom of the second the Blue and Gray team got their bats going when Zack Miller led off with a double. Andy Walker followed with a single and Tyler Hornbeiger laid down a bunt to score Miller reaching first on a Berwick error.
Tristan Derr then took advantage of another Berwick miscue to reach while plating Walker.
Tyler Meehan was up next bunting to load the bases. At the top of the order Bender hit into a fielder’s choice  and Hornbeiger was out at home.
Hunter Raup hit in the final two Warrior Run scores with a double.
Warrior Run would hold the 4-3 lead until the fifth inning when Berwick tied it up at 4-4.
“We showed something early,” said Meehan. “We played with them for five innings. A lot of times we come in here and they think Warrior Run teams are a pushover.”
It was clear that Berwick coach Butch Melito had respect for Warrior Run after the game. He was proud of his team for gutting out the win.
“We were down most of the game,” said Melito. “We were grinding and grinding. Everybody contributed on this team. It was a great effort.”
Warrior Run also made plays Friday night, going error-free until the bottom of the sixth inning.
Tyler Meehan was particularly impressive in the outfield, tracking down difficult balls.
“Tyler, he can play any position in the outfield,” said the Warrior Run coach. “We trust his glove and we trust his arm.”
Prior to the start of the game, there was an extensive ceremony honoring the Berwick High School baseball team that won the PIAA Class AAA Championship.
Although it took the Warrior Run boys out of their normal warm-up routine Meehan was happy to be part of the ceremony.
“What Berwick did was a great thing,” he said. “We were happy to do it with them.”
“These are 11 and 12 year-old boys. It won’t knock them out of their routine.”
After the game the boys were already chattering about their post-game activities.
“We’ll turn it around,” said Meehan. “Tuesday we’ll be ready to go.”