Leading by a run in the bottom of the seventh inning of Thursday’s quarterfinal, the Defenders put themselves in some serious trouble quickly when the Eagles put their first two runners on base after drawing a pair of walks.

Warrior Run’s hopes of advancing in the state tournament ended moments later when Bermudian Springs’ Kolton Hermansen hit a two-run double to center field to plate the game’s tying and go-ahead runs and give the Eagles a 4-3 victory at Wenger Memorial Ballpark.

It was like deja vu all over again for coach Derrick Zechman, who dealt with the same kind of heartbreak in 2023 as manager of Warrior Run’s Senior Division Little League team, which also suffered a walk-off loss in the East Regional final to prevent the team from advancing to the World Series.

Naturally, the post game talk with his players was pretty rough for Zechman, as tears were flowing from players and coaches alike.

BRIAN HOLTZAPPLE/Special to the Sun-Gazette Warrior Run's Tyler Ulrich shows the umpire the ball after tagging a runner out on Thursday.

“That was very tough. The toughest one I have to compare to that was when some of these boys were with me up in Maine and we lost in a walk-off, the same thing, to get to the World Series. These guys have been a part of my life forever,” said an emotional Zechman.

“When you’re in games like that, you can’t beat yourself. We played sloppy, and outs need to be outs, and when you give a team four or five outs they’ll beat you.”

Nate Ogle drew Bermudian Springs’ first walk in the seventh on five pitches. He then advanced to second on a failed pick-off attempt by Warrior Run pitcher James Keifer.

Brodie Ferrebee drew the second walk and Linkoln Heagy followed by bunting into a fielder’s choice that resulted in Ogle getting forced out at third.

At that point the Defenders could see themselves getting out of the inning, but it wasn’t to be as Hermansen drove an 0-2 pitch into center to end the game.

BRIAN HOLTZAPPLE/Special to the Sun-Gazette Warrior Run's Jackson Bowers watches as he hits a two-run double in the second inning vs. Bermudian Springs.

“I still felt good after we got the one out when it was first and second with the nine-hitter up, but with two strikes he has a clutch hit there. The lead-off walk ended up scoring, and obviously two walks in a row kills you in baseball,” said Zechman. “It was a Cinderella story for what we’ve been through all year, and it was unfortunate that we lost some guys along the way — guys that have been playing since they were 8-10 years old. So, we dealt with adversity early and overcame that, but the shot in the foot was Landon Tillson getting hurt. So when you basically lose two all-state players (Landon Polcyn and Tillson) and then still be in a state quarterfinal game says a lot about the character, the resilience and the heart of these kids.

“Hunter Beck Reynolds has been our model since Day 1 when we started this four years ago. It’s just tough knowing this is the last time I’ll ever coach these kids, but for them to play together one last time (means a lot),” added Warrior Run’s coach.

Warrior Run (18-7), however, took a 2-0 lead over Bermudian Springs (22-4) on a two-run double from Jackson Bowers in the second inning.

The Eagles knotted the game up in the third by scoring runs on an error and a ground out.

In the fourth the Defenders got a walk from Tillson, but the Eagles erased that by turning a 6-4-3 double play.

BRIAN HOLTZAPPLE/Special to the Sun-Gazette Warrior Run's James Keifer pitches in the first inning against Bermudian Springs.

Warrior Run also threatened to take the lead in the fifth and sixth innings when the team put two runners on in both. In the latter, a sacrifice bunt attempt by Tillson resulted in another double play that ultimately killed that rally.

A one-out single by Tyler Ulrich and a walk by Colton Ritenour put Warrior Run in business in the top of the seventh. Cohen Zechman flared an RBI single into center to bring home Ulrich for a 3-2 lead.

Once again, the rally and the inning ended when Collin Brandt grounds into a 5-3 double-play.

If that run in the top of the seventh stood up, James Keifer would’ve earned a hard-fought complete-game win for the Defenders. He still went the distance and had five strikeouts, three walks, and he gave up two earned runs off six hits.

“James is a bulldog, and he’s been a bulldog (all year). He might not get the credit like Griff (Harrington) does, but he’s 1A and Griff is 1. I think he’s only lost one other game besides this — and it was Mifflinburg when they scored a couple of unearned runs off him. James is mentally tough and nothing fazes him, and it’s shame — he was the better pitcher tonight and it doesn’t show on the scoreboard. He threw a great game,” said coach Zechman.

BRIAN HOLTZAPPLE/Special to the Sun-Gazette Warrior Run's Landon Tillson gets hit by a pitch against Bermudian Springs in the second inning.

“Before the season started I thought we’d be in this game, I really did, but with a different roster. It’s so unfortunate, but you live and learn. I’m so proud of these guys. It’s been a fun run and I wouldn’t change it for anything. This one is going to sting for a while, but these guys set the bar high and they changed Warrior Run baseball. This group is going to be remembered forever.”

Bermudian Springs 4, Warrior Run 3

Warrior Run 020 000 1 — 3 6 2

Bermudian Springs 002 000 2 — 4 6 0

James Keifer and Jackson Bowers. Brayden Heller and Teegan Byers. W: Heller. L: Keifer.

BRIAN HOLTZAPPLE/Special to the Sun-Gazette Warrior Run's Logan Stevenson awaits a throw for a pick-off attempt Thursday vs. Bermudian Springs.

Top Warrior Run hitters: Cohen Zechman, 1-4, RBI; Collin Brandt, 1-4; Keifer, 1-2, BB, run; Landon Tillson, BB; K. Heistand, run; Jackson Bowers, 1-3, 2B, 2 RBIs; Tyler Ulrich, 1-2, run; Colin Ritenour, 1-2, BB. Top Bermudian Springs hitters: Byers, 2-3, RBI; Heller, 1-3; Nate Ogle, BB; Brodie Ferrebee, BB, run; Linkoln Heagy, 1-2, walk, 2 runs; Kolton Hermansen, 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, run.