Pittsfield Babe Ruth 13s Go Undefeated in Pool Play at Regional
WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Pittsfield 13-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars went to the New England Regional as the best team in Western Massachusetts.
On Monday morning, they proved they can play with any team in the commonwealth.
Simon Mele struck out nine in a complete-game, 11-1 win over Eastern Massachusetts Champion Norfolk at Billy Bullens Field.
The win gives the Pittsfield 13s a 3-0 record in pool play and a bye in the first round of knockout play that gets underway on Tuesday. Pittsfield will play the winner of a Tuesday quarter-final on Wednesday at 6 p.m. for a berth in Thursday's regional final.
Mele allowed three hits, three walks and one earned run while using 94 pitches to get through the game, shortened to six innings by the 10-run rule.
He helped his clause with a double and scored a pair of runs.
Ethan O'Donnell went 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs batted in. Jackson Almeida was 2-for-3 and scored twice.
Gavin O'Donnell came off the bench to go 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, including a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth to end the game via the mercy rule.
15-Year-Old Regional
TRUMBULL, Conn. -- New Hampshire Champion Lamprey River ended the Pittsfield 15s' run in the regional tournament with a 7-1 decision on Monday.
Lamprey moves on to the semi-finals on Tuesday against host Trumbull, which earned a bye into the semis by winning its pool.
14-Year-Old Regional
ROCHESTER, N.H. -- The Pittsfield 14s lost on Monday but advanced to Tuesday's start of the knockout phase of the New England Regional.
Fall River edged Pittsfield, 10-9, to hand it its first loss in pool play.
Pittsfield finished 2-1 in the round robin. Based on run differential, it earned took the third seed from the pool and on Tuesday will play Franklin County, Maine, for a berth in the semi-finals.
