DALTON, Mass. – The Pittsfield Little League 12U All-Stars rode a powerful offensive performance and dominant pitching to a 12-4 victory over Dalton-Hinsdale in the Don Gleason District 1 Tournament opener for both teams on Thursday.

 

Dalton-Hinsdale struck first in the opening inning. Graylan Milano worked a leadoff walk and quickly moved into scoring position with aggressive baserunning before Tye Shove lined an RBI single to give Dalton-Hinsdale an early 1-0 advantage. Shove and Tony Zaniboni each swiped bases to keep the pressure on, but Pittsfield starter Hector Reyes-Colon settled in, getting a strikeout and a groundout to limit any further damage.

 

Pittsfield answered immediately, and did so in emphatic fashion.

 

Leading off the bottom of the first, Myles Morrison-Gould launched a solo home run to tie the game. Mason Fox followed with a single and stole second before Sean Rozak ripped a two-run double into the gap, giving Pittsfield a 3-1 lead after one inning.

 

 

Dalton-Hinsdale scratched across another run in the second after a hit batter, a walk, and aggressive baserunning, but Pittsfield’s offense continued to surge in the bottom half. Rozak reached and eventually scored before Chase Albano delivered an RBI double. Brody Hamilton then blasted a two-run homer, and Morrison-Gould followed with his second long ball of the evening, extending Pittsfield’s lead to 7-2.

 

Dalton-Hinsdale showed plenty of fight in the third. Milano singled and Parker Demarsh reached before Shove drove home both runners with a clutch two-run double to trim the deficit to 7-4. Reyes-Colon responded by recording another strikeout to end the inning and prevent further damage.

 

Pittsfield’s pitching staff took control from there.

 

After Morrison-Gould entered in relief during the second inning, Pittsfield continued to pile up strikeouts before Thomas Lacatell closed out the final two innings. Pittsfield kept Dalton-Hinsdale off the scoreboard over the final three frames with its defense contributing several standout plays, including a running catch in right field and a sharp grab by the shortstop to end threats.

 

The Pittsfield offense added another insurance run in the fourth. Carmelo Coco drew a walk before Maizen Errichetto lined an RBI single. Later in the inning, Hamilton delivered the biggest swing of the night, crushing his second home run of the game—a three-run blast that pushed the advantage into double digits.

 

Pittsfield tacked on one final run in the fifth when Reyes-Colon walked, stole second and third, and scored on Shaun Boehm’s RBI single.

 

Hamilton finished with two home runs and five RBIs, while Morrison-Gould homered twice of his own to ignite the offense. Rozak added a two-run double, Albano collected an RBI double, and Boehm and Errichetto each drove in runs as Pittsfield finished with contributions throughout the lineup.

 

 

Dalton-Hinsdale was led offensively by Shove, who collected three RBIs on a single and a double. Milano reached base twice and scored, while the team continued to showcase aggressive baserunning throughout the contest.

 

Pittsfield’s pitching staff capped the win in dominant fashion, striking out the side in the fifth before retiring the final three Dalton-Hinsdale hitters in order during the sixth to secure the 12-4 victory.

 

Both teams are off until Sunday, when Dalton-Hinsdale plays Adams-Cheshire at 2 with Pittsfield against Lanesborough to follow.

 

Standings: t-1. Adams-Cheshire, Pittsfield, 1-0; 3. Lanesborough, 0-0; t-4. Dalton-Hinsdale, Great Barrington, 0-1.

 

Photos from this game here.