The game would conclude with the MLB Draft League’s sudden death rule. In the extra half inning, Mahoning Valley would pitch to the Cutters, with Grant Manning on the mound and DJ Smiley the designated runner for the Cutters.

With Williamsport choosing before the game, the Cutters’ seventh, eighth, and ninth batters were due up in the extra half. Smiley would apply immediate pressure, stealing second base to move the winning run in scoring position.

The pressure would get to Mahoning catcher Keegan Rodin, who attempted to pick off Smiley at second only for the ball to go into the outfield allowing Smiley to third.

Rayth Peterson would get to first in the next at-bat on a wicked single that hit the glove of both the pitcher and second baseman resulting in runners at the corners. With Peterson taking second in the next pitch, Braylon Bishop would be intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs.

Marcus Brodil of the Williamsport Crosscutters celebrates with team mates after scoring against the Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

A harmless Joey Parliment pop-out would provide the opening out, but open the top of the order to sudden death.

But Reed would only need to sit back when Manning airmailed a pitch into the back stop. The errant throw scored Smiley, securing a wild win.

“It’s just a feeling you get before the game,” admitted Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas on the decision to hit, “Yesterday we chose to pitch, this time we chose to hit… Sudden Death was good to us today!”

The Cutters would require minimal work to get on the board against Mahoning Valley starter Brandon Arnold, with Vantrel Reed teeing off a leadoff double to start the carousal. Jackson Mayo and Marcus Brodil would follow it up with back to back walks, loading the bases with no outs.

A meeting at the mound would not lessen the blow, with Arnold hitting TJ Racherbaumer on the first pitch of the at-bat to score Reed.

Braylon Bishop of the Williamsport Crosscutters makes a leaping catch for an out on a ball hit by Chase Nixon of the Scrappers in the second inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Carlos Castillo would double Williamsport’s advantage an at-bat later, getting Mayo home on a sacrifice fly to deep center field.

After a DJ Smiley strikeout, Billtown would draw back to back walks from Rayth Petersen and Braylon Bishop to score Brodil and complete a three run inning that saw one hit.

The Scrappers would mimic Williamsport’s first inning in the second, loading the bases when Hayden Moore reached on an error, Matt Rivera hit by pitch, and Keegan Rodin walk.

Unlike the Cutters, Mahoning Valley would only get one across off of a sacrifice fly from Chase Nixon against Williamsport starter Reilly Shafer.

The second inning slip would be the only blemish for Shafer on the day, who would conclude his six inning outing allowing the solo run on two hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

Vantrel Reed of the Williamsport Crosscutters scores in the second inning on a hit by Jackson Mayo against the Scappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“He was almost at 50 after two innings,’ discussed Thomas. “But I thought he settled in and pitched well.”

Not to be outdone, the Cutters would match that mark in the bottom of the frame, with Reed leading off on another base hit. The speedster would have no hesitation to get into scoring position, stealing second with Jackson Mayo back at the plate.

On an awkward hit, Mayo would chop one to the right side for a base hit. When right fielder Theo Bryant became too casual on a throw-in, Reed charged home to make it 4-1.

Arnold would get through the second before his premature end in the third inning. Across two innings, the right hander conceded four runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts.

More Cutter small balls would bear fruit in the bottom of the fifth inning, starting with a TJ Racherbaumer single. The catcher would steal second, only to get to third when the throw from Mahoning catcher Keegan Rodin sailed into the outfield.

Vantrel Reed of the Williamsport Crosscutters scores in the second inning on a hit by Jackson Mayo against the Scappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

With one catcher benefiting the other, Racherbaumer would come home on a Carlos Castillo sacrifice fly.

Mahoning Valley would strike back in the top of the seventh against reliever Jax Howard, who would be pulled after conceding four straight walks to let in a run without an out thrown.

Theo Bryant would show no mercy against new reliever Davs Blair, cutting it to a one run game on one swing when he bolted a two run double down the left field line.

Mahoning Valley would seal Williamsport’s fate in the next at-bat, when Carson Hornung slapped a single to first baseman DJ Smiley. Complimenting the feel of the afternoon, Smiley would have the ball slip under his glove, causing two runs to come across and give the Scrappers their first lead.

Williamsport’s humiliation would be complete with Seung-Jun Cha, who bunted Hornung home on a groundout back to the pitcher. Hornung made it all the way to third on a wild pitch in the previous at-bat.

Reilly Shafer of the Williamsport Crosscutters pitches in the third inning against the Scappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

But Williamsport would find life in the bottom of the eighth, starting with DJ Smiley reaching on a fielding error. A Rayth Petersen single would move runners to the corners for Brayon Bishop, who netted just his third career RBI on a basehit to the outfield.

Joey Parliment would sacrifice an out for positioning, bunting over Petersen and Bishop to scoring position to bring up the top of the order and the go-ahead run at second.

Coming into the game would be Grant Manning for Mahoning Valley, who’s 4.15 earned run average made him one of the more prominent bullpen options for the two on one out situation.

In a seven pitch at-bat, Vantrel Reed would force a full count walk to load the bases. It was Reed’s fourth time on base to set up Jackson Mayo. With the crowd ready to roar, they would nervously celebrate as Mayo softly grounded out to the shortstop. With the middle infield back for the double play ball, Smiley would score from third to tie the game. Marcus Brodil would strikeout in the next at-bat to send the game into the ninth on level terms.

With a scoreless game in the ninth, the game moved to sudden death where Williamsport held out to win a thriller at Bowman Field.

Williamsport will close out their 2025 season starting Monday, when they host the State College Spikes for the final three games of the season.

Vantrel Reed of the Williamsport Crosscutters celebrates a double in the first inning against the Scappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Vantrel Reed of the Williamsport Crosscutters celebrates scoring in the second inning on a hit by Jackson Mayo against the Scappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Joey Parliment of the Williamsport Crosscutters throws out Theo Bryant of the Scrappers during the first inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Williamsport Crosscutters players compete during Sunday's game at Bowman Field.

Jackson Mayo and Joey Parliment of the Williamsport Crosscutters celebrate after Mayo scores against the Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Davis Blair of the Williamsport Crosscutters pitches in the top of the 7th inning against the Scrappers at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Williamsport Crosscutters celebrate as they defeat the Scrappers in Sudden Death at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette