PIttsfield Babe Ruth 16s, 14s Win at Regionals
AUGUSTA, Maine -- The Pittsfield Babe Ruth 16-year-old All-Stars broke open a pitchers' duel with four runs in the top of the seventh on the way to a 5-0 win over Augusta in the New England Regional on Saturday.
Eddie Ferris went 2-for-2 with a double and a pair of RBIs on a day when Pittsfield managed just three hits.
"Hard fought win today for the boys from Pittsfield," coach Ben Stohr said.
It scored the game-winning run in the top of the fifth without a base hit.
Cam Hillard was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Sam Glockner went into the game as a courtesy runner for the Pittsfield pitcher.
Glockner moved up to second on Goo Stannard's sacrifice bunt.
He then moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball to break a scoreless tie.
Hillard went six innnings on the mound, striking out seven and allowing one hit and four walks.
Ferris entered with two runners on after a pair of walks in the seventh and got a strikeout and a double play to end the game.
"They were an experienced team on the other side," Stohr said of the tournament's host team. "Pretty much their whole team was the 15-year-old Maine representative in the New England Regional at Wahconah Park [last summer]."
Pittsfield's "16U" squad played in the 14-year-old Babe Ruth Regional last summer. This year, Babe Ruth reconfigured to three tournaments: 13U, 14U and a 13- to 16-year-old division.
"A really crafty lefty kept us off balance all day, but the boys fought hard and got it done," Stohr said. "Very proud of them."
Pittsfield improved to 2-0 in pool play. It plays its pool's other 2-0 squad on Sunday morning when it goes against Norwalk, Conn. With a win, Pittsfield can avoid the first round of bracket play on Monday as the top seed coming out of its pool.
13-Year-Old
WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Rhode Island Champion North Providence Saturday handed Pittsfield a 20-4 loss at Bullens Field in the 13-Year-Old New England Regional.
North Providence pounded out 16 hits in the five-inning win.
Pittsfield slipped to 0-2 in pool play and will play to stay in the tournament on Sunday when it takes on Stamford, Conn., at 1 p.m.
14-year-old
NEWTOWN, Conn. -- Jason Fields drove in the game-winning run in the top of the seventh Saturday as Pittsfield's 14-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars earned a 5-4 win over Keene, N.H., at the New England Regional.
Sebastian Herrera started the winning rally with a one-out single to left.
He moved up on a groundball out off the bat of Eli Kristensen.
Fields then singled to center field to bring home Herrera and break a 4-4 tie.
Robert Bazinet and Gavin Maffuccio each went 2-for-3 to lead a nine-hit attack for Pittsfield. Bazinet doubled and drove in a run.
Brendan Merwin, Bazinet and Herrera split time on the mound for Pittsfield, combining for 13 strikeouts.
Pittsfield advances to Monday's 1 p.m. regional semi-final, where it will face the winner of Sunday's game between Keene and Central Vermont.
