PITTSFIELD, Mass. – After the Dalton-Hinsdale All-Stars stormed back to outscore Pittsfield, 4-0, over the last three innings, Pittsfield coach Matt Stracuzzi felt fortunate to escape with a 6-4 win in Game 1 of the best-of-three District 1 Championship Series on Thursday night.

 

“Thank God for the first couple of innings where Dalton gave up some runs, and thank God we took that, and that was our cushion,” Stracuzzi said. “Because we just … I thought we were prepared, but I guess it’s on me that we weren’t prepared, so I’ll take the blame for that.”

 

Pittsfield won despite committing four errors and collecting just five hits against three Dalton-Hinsdale pitchers.

 

Four of those hits came in the first three innings, when Pittsfield built a 6-0 lead.

 

After the designated home team scored five through the first two innings, it looked like Pittsfield might be on its way to another big win after outscoring its opponents by a combined 24-2 in the two round-robin games.

 

But Dalton-Hinsdale had other ideas.

 

Its coach said DH has made it a habit to respond to adversity in this tournament.