Intermediate Team On Threshold Of Regional Title

Intermediate Team On Threshold Of Regional Title
berlin D8 champs2

BERLIN- The Berlin Little League Intermediate team rolled past Pennsylvania, 7-1, on Thursday morning in the semifinals of the eastern regional tournament behind a magnificent pitching performance by Tristan McDonough to advance to the threshold of a regional championship and a possible trip to California for the national tournament.

McDonough was outstanding on the mound for Berlin on Thursday, allowing no earned runs and no walks while scattering four hits and striking out a remarkable 15 batters. McDonough also helped his own cause at the plate, going 2-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Kevon Wharton was the star the plate for Berlin, going 2-3 with two home runs and three RBIs in the tidy, hour-and-a-half semifinal win. Wes Powell drove in Berlin’s other earned run, but most of the offense came via the home run thanks to the heroics of Wharton and McDonough.

As of late yesterday, Berlin was awaiting the outcome of the other semifinal between New Jersey and New York to determine who it would face in the regional championship, set for Friday at 11 a.m. Berlin beat both New Jersey, 7-4, and New York, 17-5, in pool play.

Last Saturday, Berlin began the regional tournament pool play with an 18-0 win over Connecticut. Berlin scored 12 runs in the first three innings and kept the pressure up the entire game. In the first, Tristan McDonough homered, Matt Kinsey had an RBI single and Billy Wheatley drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. McDonough had three hits in the game and drove in three runs. Wes Powell got the win, pitching two scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out two.

Against New Hampshire on Sunday, Berlin scored early and often to cruise to the 24-4 win. Berlin scored six in the first, five in the second, two in the third, seven in the fourth and four more in the fifth. Matt Kinsey was the star at the plate, collecting four hits including two home runs and two doubles while driving in six runs. Ryan Duncan had an RBI double, Wheatley drove in two with a double, Powell singled in a run and Jack Rosenberg hit a three-run homer. All in all, Berlin got home runs by Colby Figgs, Kinsey, Powell, Duncan and Rosenberg.

On Monday, Berlin played its closest game in pool play, beating New Jersey, 7-4. Berlin got three runs in the first, but New Jersey answered with solo runs in the first and second to cut the lead to 3-2. Berlin got one back in the third to extend the lead to 4-2, but New Jersey answered in the fourth with one run to cut the lead to 4-3. Berlin settled the issue with two runs in the fifth and one in the seventh to pull out the 7-4 win.

McDonough was the star of the game, going 4-4 at the plate including three home runs. McDonough homered in the third, fifth and seventh innings while driving in five and scoring four times. Wheatley also hit a two-run homer. Hayden Snelsire was solid on the mound, pitching five-plus innings allowing four runs and one walk while striking out eight.

On Tuesday, Berlin completed pool play with the 17-5 win over New York. Powell led the way with three home runs, going 4-4 at the plate while driving in three and scoring four times. Kinsey also hit a two-run homer. Berlin collected 21 hits including 11 extra-base hits. Rosenberg got the win, allowing no hits and striking out five over two-plus innings.