BERLIN- Hoping to capture some of the magic that saw its under-12 team make a run at the World Series and a nationally televised game last year, the Berlin Little League this week opened up District 8 All-Star tournaments for both boys and girls and several age groups.
Berlin Little League’s under-12 All Star team won its third state District 8 championship last summer and made a run in the U.S. regional tournament with a trip to the World Series and Williamsport on the line before bowing out in the region semifinals. The core group of that team has now moved up to the District 8 Intermediate All Star tournament with many of the same players and a few new ones added.
The Berlin Intermediate team got off to a great start on Monday, beating Fruitland, 10-0, by slaughter after five innings. Billy Wheatley drove in the first two runs of the game with a two-out, first-inning double and also had a single and triple. Ryan Duncan had a double and a triple and scored twice. Colby Figgs and Wes Powell each had multi-hit games. Matt Kinsey got the win on the mound, throwing a complete game shutout. Berlin gave up just two hits and only three base runners all day.
Some of the other Berlin Little League teams began District 8 All Star tournaments last week and are already achieving early success. In the Tournament of Champions last week, Berlin beat West Salisbury, 9-2, before falling to Delmar, 6-4. The 9-10 team started its tournament off on the right foot with a 28-0 win over Crisfield last Sunday. Berlin’s Major League team, which will again compete for the right to advance to the Little League World Series, beat Crisfield, 13-1, on Monday.
The Berlin Senior League Baseball team will get its tournament started on Monday with a home game against West Salisbury. Likewise, the Junior League team will start its tournament on Sunday when it hosts Fruitland.
The Berlin Softball Little League teams are also competing in District 8 All Star tournaments. The 9-10 team starts with a home game on Saturday against a team to be determined. The Berlin Major League Softball team opened tournament play with a 13-10 over Willards on Monday. The game was tied at 7-7 until Amber Whitaker hit a triple in the fifth inning to break open the game.