“Our guys seem to keep fighting,” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas after the win. “When things start looking bad, they just keep going.”

Williamsport starter Dylan Alonso faced off against Trenton’s Jude Abbadessa. Both starters would steal the show during their tenure on the mound, with Alonso allowing one run in four innings pitched and Abbadessa conceding an unearned run across his five innings on the hill.

“We are facing good pitching,” Thomas echoed. “[Abbadessa] did a great job for them.”

After three scoreless innings, Trenton would draw first blood in the fourth starting with a leadoff single from Mike Whooley. A stolen base from the middle infielder would advance the runner to scoring position and, two batters later, Whooley would come in to score on a Taylor Belza bloop single.

Logan Johnstone of the Williamsport Crosscutters celebrates scoring in the sixth inning against the Thunder at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

But a small ball response would lead to a tie game after five, when Amman Dewberry reached on a leadoff error. Dewberry, who was the hero with a game winning triple the night before, would steal second. The speedster would then take off to third when a throw from catcher John Schhroeder sailed into the outfield. Dewberry would only need to jog to home plate, leveling the score after five.

And similar to last night, Williamsport would come back an inning later in the seventh, starting with a one out Hayden Jatczak single.

Logan Johnstone would single an at bat later and, trying to get Jatczak out as he went to third, outfielder Juju Stevens heaved it wide and into the Trenton dugout. The dead ball infraction allowed Jatczak to come home.

Advancing to third in the midst of the chaos, Johnstone would come home next after an RBI single from Matt Ilgenfritz that made it 3-1 Cutters after six.

But unlike the night before, Trenton would find a response in the seventh, with Carsten Sabathia and Paolo Noris both reaching base to start the inning. A flyout and fielder’s choice would leave Noris on second and Aaron Whitley at first for Aaron Graeber, who would tie the game on a rocket double off the right field wall that cleared the bases.

Boston Smith of the Williamsport Crosscutters slides into second base during the first inning against the Thunder at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The deadlock would only last to the bottom half of the seventh, when nine hole hitter Dylan Schaeffer became the go ahead run after a leadoff single. Schaeffer would take second on a wayward pickoff attempt, and then move to third on a balk a batter later.

With one out and Armani Newton at the plate, the second hitter in the lineup would send the Cutters ahead once more, unloading a triple that one hopped off the right center wall to make it 4-3.

“What a big hit by Newton tonight,” reflected Thomas. “That was big right there.”

Boston Smith would double the advantage an at bat later, forcing a sacrifice fly to right that brought in Newton for a 5-3 scoreline.

A scary moment would befall Williamsport reliever Easton Davies in the top of the eighth. With one out and two runners on, Carsten Sabathia sent a pitch right back towards Davies’s head, with the pitcher using his arm to deflect the ball heading towards him. Davies had the wherewithal to pick up the ball and throw to first for the second out, but was taken out of the game after a meeting at the mound.

Ryan Kennell of the Williamsport Crosscutters throws out John Schroeder of the Trenton Thunder to end the top of the sixth inning at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It hit him on the inside of the wrist. The crazy thing is he picked the ball up and threw it to first! We’ll have to watch him closely in the next few days.”

Jed Boyle would come in for Davies, and quickly get the third out to close the eighth inning on top.

Trenton would provide drama in the ninth with Boyle back on the mound, getting a runner in scoring position from an Aaron Whitley fielder’s choice and stolen base. But Boyle would snuff the late rally, getting the rest of the outs in order to secure another dramatic Cutters win.

The win improves Williamsport to 6-3 on the season, keeping their second position in the MLB Draft League standings. After a Monday off day, Billtown will look to improve their three game win streak on Tuesday, when they host the Frederick Keys in game one of a three game set.

Amman Dewberry of the Williamsport Crosscutters singles during the 5th inning against the Trenton Thunder at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Joey Spence of the Williamsport Crosscutters runs to first on an RBI single during the 6th inning against the Thunder at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Amman Dewberry of the Williamsport Crosscutters celebrates with team mates after scoring during the 5th inning against the Trenton Thunder at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Catcher Joey Spence and right fielder Matt Ilgenfritz of the Williamsport Crosscutters collide as they both try to get the ball for the last out of the game against Trenton of the at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Armani Newton (center) and catcher Joey Spence of the Williamsport Crosscutters laugh as they celebrate their sweep over the Trenton Thunder at Journey Bank Ballpark. The Cutters won, 5-3. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette