The Suffolk Youth Athletic Association Bronco All-Stars continued their outstanding run with a dramatic comeback win in the championship game of the 2015 PONY East Zone South Region Bronco Tournament on July 25 in Suffolk.

“We’ve swept districts, we’ve swept sectionals and now we’ve swept regionals,” SYAA Bronco All-Stars coach Will Varnier said. “This group of kids have played together for a few years now, and you can ask any coach on that team — this is the best this team has ever played, top to bottom.”

The squad currently possesses a 9-0 overall record. It went 3-0 at the district level, 3-0 in sectionals, and it started its play in the six-team regional tourney with a 5-1 victory over a team from Davidson, N.C. on July 22.

Then, the SYAA team faced a squad from Youngsville, N.C., in the semifinals and routed it 12-2 on July 24. That same team defeated Davidson in the loser’s bracket later that night, earning a rematch against the SYAA all-stars in the championship on July 25.

The Youngsville team would have to topple the local boys twice to earn the title and move on to the next level of play.

The day proved to be a big one for SYAA all-star pitcher Travis Williams, who was celebrating his 13th birthday.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the SYAA team led 6-3.

“Travis came to me and said, ‘Coach, I want to finish this game, I want to pitch the rest of this game,’” Varnier said. “His pitch count was up, and usually you don’t let any pitchers go more than 80 or 85 pitches, and he still wanted the ball.”

The coach said if Williams was still performing well and did not show any signs of fatigue, he would let him keep pitching.

The score remained 6-3 entering the top of the sixth inning with the talented top of the lineup headed to the plate for the Youngsville squad.

It helped produce four runs, giving its team a 7-6 lead, and Varnier noted Williams was obviously upset. He talked with Williams, who regrouped a little bit after that.

But the SYAA team could not score in the bottom of the sixth.

Entering the top of the seventh, Varnier told Williams he was still pitching well; the North Carolina squad just hit the ball really well in the sixth. The coach said if that trend continued, he would make the change on the mound.

“And he said, ‘Absolutely, Coach,’” Varnier said. “He went in, and I don’t know if it went three up and three down, but they didn’t score any runs in the top of the seventh.”

Then, the coach gathered the kids together.

“It was that championship moment,” Varnier said. “It was one where you tell all the kids to look you in the eye and you tell them, ‘Look, this is the stuff championship teams are made of. We’re given the opportunity right now to go out and win this game.’”

“Nate (Varnier), my son, was the leadoff,” the coach said. “I looked at him and said, ‘Nate, whatever you do, you’ve got to get on.’”

He hit a hard shot directly to the shortstop, who bobbled it, allowing him to reach first.

“So that really switched the momentum our way,” the coach said. “I think Nate stole second, and then I believe Nick Cleghorn hit him in for the tying run.”

It was a sacrifice hit by Cleghorn, and later, another player struck out.

Next, Rylan Riddick doubled to right field.

“And then who comes up for a chance to win the game but the kid who’d just pitched seven innings,” Varnier said. “It’s his birthday … the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs.”

During the at-bat, the pitcher balked, advancing Riddick to third base.

Next, Williams hit the ball straight to the shortstop, who misplayed the ball.

“Just that one brief second where he couldn’t find it, Travis legged it out, Rylan scored, and we win the ballgame,” Varnier said.

And they advance to the next-to-last level of play, as well.

“It’s just been such a fantastic run,” the coach said. “It’s unbelievable what these kids have done and how well they’re playing together as a team.”

The SYAA Bronco All-Stars begin play in the 2015 PONY East Zone Tournament on Aug. 1 in Cranberry Township, Pa.