LIMEPORT – Jim Thorpe’s Connie Mack team rode a range of emotions in its inaugural appearance in the Pennsylvania Connie Mack tournament Thursday night.

However, eight errors, including several on bunts, along with eight issued walks and one hit batsman severely spoiled the atmosphere.

Hellertown scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to win a wild 8-7 affair in an opening-round game of the double-elimination tournament at Limeport Stadium.

“This was a great atmosphere and we had good fan support here,” said JT head coach Pat Joyce. “There were a lot of high and lows throughout the game.

“But the game came down to us not being able to play their bunt well enough. We were throwing the ball around a bit and that hurts us.”

Down 6-4 heading into the top of the seventh, Jim Thorpe regained the momentum with a three-run rally.

Michael Cadugan-Dougherty worked a walk and Spencer Hunsicker then blasted a triple down the left field line. Drew Frank followed with a single that knotted the game at 6-6. Two batters later, James Lordi loaded the bases with a walk after he kept his at-bat alive after having a popup caught out of play.

With Justin Marykwas at the plate, Hellertown reliever Nick German uncorked a wild pitch and pinch-runner Adam Lauer crossed the plate with the go-ahead run. Hunsicker and Frank each had a pair of hits.

Hellertown’s Cole Curtis walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Matt Deibert dropped a sacrifice bunt. Frank fielded it, looked and then turned toward second. He uncorked a high throw into the outfield. Kevin Mateff followed with another bunt toward third that was fielded by Garrett Holloway, whose throw was late to first to load the bases. Chris Medi walked before Brandon Binn hit a high chopper to Cadugan-Dougherty at short, who threw high to the plate.

Jim Thorpe jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first behind Lordi’s two–run double. The Olympians boosted their lead to 4-1 in the third when Marykwas’ single scored Lordi with the help of an error from centerfielder Ben Happel, who misplayed the ball.

Lordi started the game for the Olympians and got out of potential jams in the second, third, and fourth innings when he recorded a strike out in each stanza to end the inning. However, he slowed in the fifth when Hellertown tied the game with a three-run rally. Overall, Lordi struck out five and walked six.

Frank relieved and struck out four of the first seven batters he faced before he ran into trouble.

“(Lordi and Frank) are two kids we really count on when we are put in a spot like this,” added Joyce. “We liked James starting this game and Drew coming out of the bullpen.”

The Olympians will have two days off before they resume play Sunday at 2:30 and meet the loser of the South Parkland-Moore Township game.

“After something like this, it is good to have the days off,” said Joyce. “We’ll take the two days off and collect our heads and be ready to go Sunday.”

BUX-MONT BOUNCER ... Bux-Mont, whose teams typically dominate Lehigh Valley teams in the state tournament, posted a victory in the other opening game when Doylestown edged Stroudsburg, 3-2.

85 YEARS YOUNG ... Limeport Stadium is still in immaculate condition with its rustic look. Center field is a cavernous 485 feet with 325 down the left field line and 322 down the right.

CHANCE MEETING ... In their only other meeting this year, Hellertown downed Jim Thorpe 12-4 in a June 3 regular season game.

PLAYOFF TESTED ... Jim Thorpe beat Emmaus in the opening round of the league playoffs before it fell to runner-up Northeast Bethlehem.

Hellertown downed Stroudsburg before it lost to eventual Lehigh Valley Connie Mack champion Balliet Vikes.

Jim Thorpe 301 010 3 - 7 8 8

Hellertown 010 131 2 - 8 5 2

W - German. L - Frank.