A regional tournament for the right to go on to the PONY National Championships in Texas came down to two teams from Suffolk and came down to the final play on Sunday, June 27 at Holland Athletic Association.

In the 10-and-under division, a double play off a line drive gave the Suffolk Crush the last two outs it needed for an 8-7 win over the Holland Havoc.

With the tying run for the Havoc on third base and one out in the home half of the final inning, pitcher Haley Johnson snagged a line drive and threw to third baseman Madison Froemel for the game-ending double play. The Crush, from Suffolk Youth Athletic Association, finished the two days of play with a 4-1 record.

In Saturday’s group play contests, Suffolk defeated Holland 11-5 and Deep Creek 13-6. The Crush lost its last game of the day, 15-5 to Little Creek National, and had to settle for the No. 2 seed going into Sunday. Whitney Jones got the pitching win against Holland. Johnson won the Deep Creek game. Delaney Taylor hit three home runs, coming in three consecutive at-bats, against Deep Creek.

The Crush beat Windsor 9-5 to start play Sunday and make the championship game.

Holland upset No. 1-seed Little Creek in the other semifinal game. The Havoc won 3-2 with Sara Matthews pitching Holland to the win.

The Crush is coached by Carrie Johnson. Although winning the National Qualifying Tournament allows Suffolk to play in the PONY Nationals in Round Rock, Tex. in late July, SYAA’s softball commissioner Rod Taylor said the all-star team’s season wouldn’t continue that long into the summer.