BERLIN- The Berlin Little League Intermediate team got off to a fast start this week in the Little League World Series in California, sweeping its first two games to advance in the winner’s bracket.
Berlin last Friday won the region championship in New York to advance to the Little League Intermediate World Series at Max Baer Field in Livermore, Calif. After the cross country trip and opening ceremonies and parades, Berlin got back on the field for its series opener on Tuesday against the Central Region champion Taylor Little League from Taylor Michigan.
Berlin took care of Taylor, 8-2, on Monday behind a strong performance on the mound and at the plate from Wes Powell. Back in action on Wednesday, Berlin withstood a tough matchup with Southwest Region winner Midland, Texas, but pulled away for the 11-8 win to sweep its first two games and advance to the third round tomorrow.
Against Midland on Wednesday, Berlin led 2-1 after the first inning, and then scored five runs in the top of the third to open a 7-1 lead. Billy Wheatley drove in the first two runs in the first inning with an RBI double. In the five-run third, Tristan McDonough cleared the bases with a grand slam to stake Berlin to a 7-1 lead.
Midland was not ready to roll over, however, and came back with four runs of its own in the bottom of the third to cut the Berlin lead to 7-5. In what became a theme for the game, Berlin answered with three runs in the top of the fourth to extend its lead to 10-5. Texas added a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 10-6. After Berlin went scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, despite opportunities, Midland scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 10-8 with one inning remaining.
Berlin added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to take an 11-8 lead into the final frame. Midland went quietly, one-two-three in the bottom of the seventh and Berlin advanced with their second win in as many days. McDonough led Berlin at the plate, going 2-5 with five RBIs including an RBI single and a grand slam in the decisive third. Powell went 3-4 at the plate and drove in two runs, while Hayden Snelsire and Billy Wheatley each went 2-4 with an RBI. McDonough turned in a strong performance on the mound, pitching three and a third innings and allowing just one hit and one earned run while striking out nine. Snelsire and Jack Rosenberg were also effective on the hill for Berlin in relief of McDonough.
Berlin’s second round win was set up by a decisive 8-2 win over Central Region champ Taylor, Michigan in the opening round on Tuesday. Berlin was led by a strong performance on the mound and at the plate by Powell on Tuesday. Berlin scored three times in the second and three more in the third to take a 6-0 lead.
Taylor cut the lead to 6-1 with a single run in the fourth, but Berlin answered with two more runs in the top of the fifth. After Taylor cut the lead to 8-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Berlin closed them out the rest of the way including a one-two-three seventh to claim the first-round win.
Matt Kinsey hit a two-run homer for Berlin and Bill Wheatley drove in another run, but the big star at the plate for Berlin was Powell, who went 3-4 with three RBIs. Powell was also dominating on the mound, pitching seven complete while allowing two runs on just three hits.
With its 2-0 start, Berlin remained unbeaten in All Star play this summer thus far, sweeping the District 8 championship, the Maryland state championship and the Mid-Atlantic regional championship to reach the World Series in California this week. The same core team of players has competed together at different age groups over the last few years, winning four straight District 8 and state championships. Berlin will be back in action on Friday night against the winner of the West-Southeast game with a 10 p.m. eastern start time.