Paronto Pitches Pittsfield Babe Ruth to State Title
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Connor Paronto scattered six hits Saturday to lead the Pittsfield Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars to an 11-1, five-inning win over Westfield to claim the Western Massachusetts State Championship.
With the win, Pittsfield qualifies for the New England Regional Championship later this month in Rhode Island.
Paronto did not pick up any strikeouts but also did not allow a walk as Pittsfield completed a two-game sweep of the best-of-three series against Westfield.
Luke Ferguson, Jackson Almeida and Goo Stannard each contributed a pair of hits in a 14-hit Pittsfield attack.
Morrie Fried doubled in a run and scored in a four-run fifth inning rally to end the game.
Westfield drew first blood, getting a run in the top of the first at Deming Park.
Pittsfield tied it in the second, when Andrew Hammill singled to lead off the inning, moved up on a walk to Ferguson and eventually scored on Stannard’s single to right.
It stayed 1-1 until Pittsfield exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Cam Hillard gave his team the lead for good when he hit a one-out single to drive in Ferguson, who started the inning with a base hit.
Almeida, Brenden Socie and Paronto each drove in a run in the rally.
Pittsfield advances to play the Rhode Island state champion on Wednesday, July 19, to open pool play at North Providence High School.
