The 2023 Pennsylvania Connie Mack State Tournament began on July 20 with 12 teams, six from the Lehigh Valley and six from Bucks/Montgomery Counties, competing in the double-elimination tournament at Limeport Stadium in Coopersburg.

In the third game of the series, Moore Township faced Norriton in what quickly became a pitcher’s duel for the Redhawks’ Brady Simock and the Knights’ Carter Burton, and at the end of 10 innings, Shane Sperduto’s walk-off RBI down the first base line gave Norriton the 1-0 win on July 21.

“It doesn’t feel great with a loss, but these kids left their hearts out on the field, and that’s all we ask them to do,” said Moore Township manager Jarad Haupt.

Simock delivered three strikeouts in the bottom of the second inning, and in the top of the third, catcher Kaiden Gehret’s single that skipped through the infield was Moore’s first hit of the game.

Simock struck out two Knights in the bottom of the third, and Gehret picked off Burton at second base for the inning’s final out.

Simock attempted to field a bunt in the fourth inning, but the ball bounced off his glove and into the glove of Aidan Sugra at third base, who promptly threw to Tommy Hensel at first for the out.

The Redhawks left Sugra and Brandon Downey stranded in the fifth, but the bottom of the inning was a one-two-three for Simock.

In a magnificent play by the Redhawks, Billy Stuhldreher made a catch in center field, and his throw to the infield resulted in a double play as Hensel tagged Watson attempting to reach home.

“Our guys gave it their all today,” said Haupt. “We got out of some situations we probably shouldn’t have gotten out of.”

Moore reliever Owen Stanchock got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh inning when he struck out Ryan Molvane to head into extra innings.

“We try to teach them all year long and prepare them for those situations,” Haupt said. “It’s easy to talk about, but it’s hard to handle when you’re out there.”

Moore left the bases loaded in the top of the ninth after a walk on four straight pitches and two hit-by- pitches.

Norriton’s Brett Murphy led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to deep left field, and Drew Mocarsky was intentionally walked, but John Angelo Salamone hit into a double play for the third out after Stanchock picked off Murphy.

“Again, every single one of these guys did a great job,” Haupt said. “Tip our caps to them. Their pitcher did a phenomenal job. Their reliever was on as well, and they came out on top, but I wouldn’t change a thing. We were on today. They were a little bit better.”