Whitehouse Post 284’s Komline breaks tie with solo home run after Fairfield players let foul ball drop.
Baseball by its very nature is a sport of failure.
After all, the National Baseball Museum is filled with inductees who failed two-thirds of the time.
But the sport also is one of second chances.
And Whitehouse (N.J.) Post 284 first baseman Kellan Komline took advantage of one of those “second chances” on Saturday to help his team knock off the Fairfield (Calif.) Expos 3-2 on Saturday in Game 7 of the 2026 American Legion World Series at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.
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PHOTO 1: Pitcher Gabriel Arato of Whitehouse, N.J. Post 284. PHOTO 2: Pitcher Nolan Collins of the Fairfield, Calif. Expos. PHOTO 3: Matty Dalfonzo of Whitehouse, N.J. Post 284 crosses home plate. PHOTO 4: Sage Nelson of the Fairfield, Calif. Expos takes to the field. PHOTO 5: Dylan Vernick of Whitehouse, N.J. Post 284 rounds the bases to score a run. Photos by Chet Strange
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning and the score tied, Komline hit a popup in foul territory that drew the attention of three Fairfield fielders.
Instead of being caught for an inning-ending out, the ball fell harmlessly among the trio and Komline had a second chance that he took advantage of on the very next pitch.
Komline hit a 340-foot line drive home run over the right field fence that proved to be the game-winner.
“When I popped it up, I saw three people running to it and I thought, ‘Oh gosh, this is an inning-ender,’” Komline said. “But I stayed focused, got a good pitch to drive and stayed on it.”
After Komline’s hit, Whitehouse’s versatile Reid Bazydlo came on in relief of starter and winner Gabe Arato (6 innings, 5 strikeouts) to retire three straight batters after yielding a leadoff walk for the save.
“Komline is a gamer and he really stepped up for us in that spot,” Whitehouse coach Steve Farsiou said. “And Reid does everything for us and came through again.”
Farsiou’s team is playing without three injured starters who helped the team make its first ALWS appearance by winning last week’s Mid-Atlantic regional: first baseman Mike Novotny and catchers Mike Basile and Jackson Lewis.
“Those are three guys that batted 1-2-3 in our lineup a lot this year,” Farsiou said. “I’m so proud of my team. These guys are just very gritty. They don’t flinch and I’m happy for them.”
The win evened Whitehouse’s pool play record at 1-1 while Fairfield fell to 0-2.
Next for Whitehouse (36-5): 1 p.m. ET Sunday vs. Lincoln (Neb.) Carpet Land Post 500,
Next for Fairfield (40-24-1): 7 p.m. ET Sunday vs. Tupelo (Miss.) Post 49
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