GLEN ALLEN, Va. -- The Pittsfield Babe Ruth 13-year-old All-Stars Friday came back from an early three-run deficit to earn a 6-5 win over the Mid-Atlantic Champions from Williamsport, Pa., in their first game at the World Series.
"It was a little nerve-wracking," Pittsfield Manager Ben Stohr said. "But it felt good to get that first one."
Connor Paronto and Cam Hillard combined to allow just five hits, and Hillard left the bases loaded in the pivotal fifth inning to preserve the lead before shutting out the Pennsylvania State Champs over the next two innings.
Jackson Almeida went 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBIs to lead Pittsfield's offense, which rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-4 lead.
Ryan "Goo" Stannard got the winning rally going with a leadoff walk.
With one-out, Eddie Ferris singled to left to put runners on first and second.
Morrie Fried then reached on an error that loaded the bases.
Almeida hit a two-run single to drive home Stannard and Ferris, giving Pittsfield a 5-4 lead and putting Fried in scoring position.
He moved up to third on Andrew Hammill's single that loaded the bases.
Luke Ferguson was then hit by a pitch to bring home Noah Arnold, who pinch ran for Fried.
In the bottom of the fifth, Hillard took the hill in relief of Paronto.
Pennsylvania worked three straight walks to load the bases with nobody out, and the next batter grounded out to Stannard to second to drive in a run on a fielder's choice and make it 6-5.
Hillard got the next hitter to swing at a third strike, but Zion Hughes worked a two-out walk to reload the bases.
But Hillard left them full by getting a first-pitch groundout to Stannard to end the inning.
"I think both of [Paronto and Hillard] didn't have their best stuff to start, but once they got settled in and kept things rolling, they got in a groove," Stohr said. "They had the experience in regionals where things weren't going their way.
"[Hillard] was right around the strike zone. He wasn't missing by much. But he fought through it and had the defense behind him. that took a lot of guts."
Pennsylvania got a leadoff walk in the sixth and a two-out walk in the seventh, but Hillard closed the door both times.
Pittsfield started the game by using its speed on the basepaths to manufacture a run.
Christian Barry and Ferris started the game with back-to-back walks, and Barry stole third.
After Briar Persing got the first of his seven strikeouts, a wild pitch allowed Barry to come home to give Pittsfield a 1-0 lead.
"We try to tell the guys to keep it simple and focus on the inning at hand," Stohr said. "Scraping one across in the first despite not getting a hit felt good."
Pennsylvania struck back with four runs on three hits and a couple of Pittsfield errors in the bottom of the first.
"They were ready to smash the ball pretty good, and all of a sudden it's 4-1 pretty quick," Stohr said. "But our guys stayed focused. They knew we weren't going to score just one run."
Pittsfield got two back in the top of the fourth.
Almeida got things started with a leadoff double, and Ferguson drew a one-out walk. A fly ball left runners at second and third with two out, and Brenden Socie walked to load the bases.
Robby Bazinet then hit a two-run double to drive in Almeida and Ferguson and make it 4-3, Pennsylvania.
"Bazinet is someone who didn't get a lot of runs in the regional tournament, but he has been working hard ever since in the cage," Stohr said. "He's a difference maker."
Another difference for Pittsfield was Pennsylvania's decision to pull Persing with one out and Almeida on third in the top of the fourth.
"He had good stuff," Stohr said. "He was throwing hard. I think he was having some trouble with command with the curve ball. Our guys were making him work. We had some strikeouts, but we got his pitch count up. I think their coach made a decision to keep him available.
"Once the relievers came in, there was a little bit of a velocity difference, and they made an adjustment."
Pittsfield takes a 1-0 record in pool play into Saturday's off day. It's next game is Sunday at 4 p.m. against the Virginia State Champions from Manassas.
Stohr said the opening win will make the team's one day off at the tournament a little more enjoyable.
"It definitely does," he said. "We have the field to practice on tomorrow. I think it's around 10 we have the field. We'll keep it light, do some defensive work. Then I think they're going to an amusement park. Coach and I might be skipping that fun to do some scouting work."
iBerkshires.com's coverage of the Babe Ruth 13-year-old World Series is sponsored by General Dynamics.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Belchertown Stops Pittsfield Post 68
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Belchertown Post 239’s Cooper Beckwith set the tone when he crushed the game’s first pitch to left-center field for a double.
The visitors went on to pound out 14 more hits in a 9-1 win over Pittsfield Post 68 in American Legion Baseball action at Buddy Pellerin Field on Monday night.
Beckwith went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice, and Chase Earle went five innings on the mound without allowing an earned run as Post 239 improved to 15-0 this summer and completed a regular-season sweep of Post 68 (12-4).
“He’s a good pitcher,” Post 68 coach Rick Amuso said. “Good velo[city], kept the ball down. We didn’t respond.”
Pittsfield did manage to scratch out a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, when it already trailed, 7-0.
Nick Brindle reached on an error to start the inning. He moved up on a single by Jack Reed (2-for-2) and scored on a single to left by Cam Zerbato.
That was half the hits allowed by Earle, who struck out three before giving the ball to Alex West, who gave up a leadoff walk in the sixth and retired the next six batters he faced.
Water runoff reaching the drainage outlet behind the property is flooding it, unable to reach an intermittent stream meant to carry that runoff. click for more
The $25,000 raised will directly assist the Berkshire Humane Society in funding its various programs aimed at improving the lives of animals in need throughout the Berkshire County area. click for more
The short film follows Tom Levardi, who has been a supporter of the hiking community over the last 45 years by allowing Appalachian Trail hikers to camp in his back yard.
click for more
On Thursday, the commission issued 36 conditions for the city project that include a new boardwalk, access stairs, paring improvements, seasonal docks, and a new swimming beach on the park’s two properties at 1447 North St. and 40 Hancock Rd. click for more
Mike Ressler was unhittable on the mound, and the Pittsfield Little League All-Stars completed a convincing run through the Don Gleason District 1 Tournament with a 19-0 win over Dalton-Hinsdale on Thursday. click for more