Pirates escape Dodgers furious rally to take series lead

Last year's SPL title game combatants got off to winning starts in their playoff semi-finals series openers Tuesday night.

Cashtown led 7-2 entering the seventh inning and withstood a Littlestown charge, as reliever Josh Topper shut the door with a game-ending strikeout in the Pirates' 7-6 win. The Dodgers had the tying and go-ahead runners in scoring position when Topper relieved starter D.J. Cool to notch the save. Chris Schachle's pinch-hit 3-run homer helped the Pirates stake their early lead. Mike Tempel and Chase King each had two hits for Cashtown. Littlestown, which outhit the defending SPL champs 12-10, got three hits each from Justin Keith and Tanner Kohler in the loss.

Hanover got clutch hits from multiple players to defeat the Twins 4-1. Jon Karlheim threw five innings to get the win and Clint Roche held the Twins at bay with two innings of shutout relief. Jeff Deveney's RBI single in the bottom of the first gave the Twins an early lead. Conrad Miller was perfect through three innings, but the Raiders solved the righty in their second trip through the lineup. Mark Phillips blasted a triple to tie the game in the fourth, and Adam Smith's booming double put the Raiders on top in the fifth. Pat Brady and A.J. Phillips added insurance runs with RBI hits.

Littlestown and Hanover will host game two of their respective series Thursday at 6:00.