BERLIN- The Berlin Little League 9-10 All-Star team made a great run in its attempt to repeat as state champions this week, but finished 2-2 in the tournament and bowed out on Tuesday.
The Berlin 9-10 team repeated as District 8 champions earlier this month and rode momentum into the state championship tournament in western Maryland starting last weekend. Berlin was the defending state champion and appeared poised to make another run at a state title and advance to the regional tournament.
Things started well for Berlin last Saturday with an 11-2 win over Conococheague. Brenner Gursky collected three hits and drove in six runs, while Cole Lynch had two hits and Owen Knerr had one hit. Berlin scored one in the first, five in the second and four in the sixth to blow the game open. Three Berlin pitchers combined to allow just one earned run on four hits.
Back in action on Sunday, Berlin lost to Thurmont, 18-7. Thurmont got it going early with four runs in the first and four more in the second, but Berlin battled back to make it close with six runs in the fourth inning. However, Thurmont exploded for 10 runs in the fourth to pull away. Gursky, Lynch and Knerr each had two hits in the loss.
On Monday, Berlin played its third game in a row and beat Northwest Washington, 16-8. Berlin scored eight runs in the first and added five more in the third to settle the issue once and for all. Adam Gardner had two hits and drove in three runs, while Calvin Lorance also had two hits and drove in two. Zach Powers had two RBIs, while Knerr had two hits.
With a record of 2-1, Berlin faced Conococheague again on Tuesday with a chance to advance out of pool play. With an 11-2 win over Conococheague already in the opener, Berlin had to repeat the effort to move on the state tournament. Berlin trailed 4-0 early, but tied it with one run in the second and three more in the third. Berlin actually led, 5-4, after four, but Conococheague scored six times in the decisive fifth inning to pull away and advance.