BERLIN- The Berlin Little League All-Stars enjoyed another big week with the 9-10 team capturing the District 8 championship on Tuesday and the Intermediate team rallying from behind on Monday to reach the threshold of another state championship.
The 9-10 team beat Fruitland, 7-2, on Tuesday to win the District 8 championship. Berlin had cruised through the district tournament, including an 11-1 thrashing of Delmar in the semifinals to reach the championship game.
Meanwhile, Berlin Intermediate team staged a remarkable rally to beat District 5 champion Hughesville. 18-11, in the Maryland state championship tournament in Washington, D.C. on Monday. The Intermediate team played a back-and-forth battle with Hughesville on Monday before both teams stage big innings to break up the contest. Hughesville scored twice in the first to take a 2-0 lead, but Berlin answered in the bottom of the inning with four runs including a two-run homer by Tristan McDonough. Hughesville answered with its own two-run homer to tie the game at 4-4 in the second, but Berlin again answered with a run to take the lead again at 5-4.
Hughesville appeared to blow the game open in the third with a six-run inning including a grand slam to jump out to an 11-5 lead. However, Berlin would not go quietly and scored nine times in the fifth to take a 15-11 win. Berlin scratched out three more runs and the pitchers shut down Hughesville in the final two innings as the local team advanced to the championship round.