Times Observer photo by Tim Frank Jamestown Krusaders second baseman Eli Snyder throws to first base during Game 4 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series against Broomall Newtown, Pennsylvania on Saturday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Chase Haglund’s energy can be infectious to teammates.

On Saturday night, Haglund was in the middle of all the action as the Jamestown Krusaders beat Broomall Newtown 7-2 in their opening game of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series at Diethrick Park.

Haglund hit a run-scoring single, threw out a runner at home plate to complete a double play and scored from second on an infield single as the host team improved to 1-0 in the American Division along with Eau Claire, Wisconsin, which beat Opp, Alabama, in the other American Division game Saturday.

“He has a ton of energy. When he plays well, the entire team plays well,” Jamestown manager Shane Swan said of Haglund. “That energy resonates with everyone else.”

The Krusaders didn’t complete their victory until nearly midnight after a nearly two-hour rain delay slowed Game 3 between Moorhead, Minnesota, and Greenville, North Carolina. Another 29-minute delay during Jamestown’s game nearly pushed the game into the wee hours of Sunday morning.

Times Observer photo by Tim Frank Jamestown Krusaders catcher Branston Lindquist tags out Broomall Newtown, Pennsylvania's Jackson Burger to complete an inning-ending double play during Game 4 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series on Saturday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.

It was well worth the wait.

Jamestown took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Nash Luther singled to right field and Matt Cowan was hit by a pitch ahead of Dominic Weber’s two-out walk. Haglund then hit an RBI single to center field that turned into two runs when the ball was bobbled in the outfield, allowing Cowan to also score on the play.

Krusaders starter and Ron Tellefsen Player of the Game Ashton Putney cruised through the first three innings unscathed before running into trouble in the fourth inning — thanks to Mother Nature and the Broomall Newtown bats.

“Nobody can square a ball up on him for some reason,” Swan said of Putney. “He hits his spots. He’s a smart pitcher. He knows what to throw in what situations. He remembers batters from the last time he faced them.”

Jackson Burger led off the fourth for the Northeast Atlantic champions with a single to right field, and as heavy rain began to fall Putney uncorked a wild pitch to send Burger to second base. Umpires then decided to suspend the game for a delay that lasted just about a half-hour.

Times Observer photo by Tim Frank Jamestown Krusaders' Blake Herman attempts to secure a groundball during Game 4 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series against Broomall Newtown, Pennsylvania on Saturday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.

When the teams returned, Putney got a fly out to center field, but a walk and another single loaded the bases. Broomall Newtown’s Jack Quinn then lifted a ball to center field that Haglund caught before throwing home on the fly to catcher Branston Lindquist who made a diving tag to get Burger out at the plate preserving a 2-0 lead.

“That was an absolutely huge play,” Swan said. ” … I know what kind of arm Chase has and I know what kind of accuracy he has.”

The Krusaders added to their lead almost immediately when Blake Herman walked and Putney doubled with one out ahead of Lindquist’s two-run single to center field.

Putney was lifted after allowing the first two batters to reach in the bottom of the fifth. Herman relieved and allowed a pair of runs to score on a throwing error and a wild pitch, but escaped the inning with a 4-2 lead intact.

“I was initially hoping he would get through five, but I wasn’t worried at that point,” Swan said. “I took him out at 88 pitches, but with the guys we have on this that can throw, I was confident.”

Times Observer photo by Tim Frank Broomall Newtown, Pennsylvania second baseman Matt LaTour tags out Jamestown Krusaders' Blake Herman attempting to steal during Game 4 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series on Saturday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.

Jamestown added three runs in the sixth inning. Eli Snyder reached on an error and Weber was hit by a pitch before Haglund reached on an error that allowed a run to score. After a groundout pushed Haglund to second, Putney hit a chopper over the mound that resulted in an infield single. Running on the swing with two outs, Haglund chased Weber home and scored all the way from second base.

“That kid can fly,” Swan said of Haglund. ” … (Third-base coach) Brenin Payne said ‘I wasn’t stopping him. He was moving.’ It worked out great.”

Herman settled in from there on the mound, striking out the side in both the sixth and seventh innings to secure the victory.

“Blake is a workhorse. My goal is to keep him under 45, but he told me in the dugout if I pulled him he was going to be very angry,” Swan said. “That kid is an animal. I wasn’t pulling him.”

The Krusaders will return to action at 7 tonight against Opp, the Southwest Region champions.

“It has to be one game at a time,” Swan said. ” … We needed the win. … The first game is the biggest game. You don’t want the kids to get down after a loss in Game 1.”