16 - June 24, 2011


by Marc Ayotte Muldoon Park in Pelham was the site on


Saturday, June 18, for the town’s Little League Championship games in both the Triple A and Major Divisions. On the Robert C. Blinn Memorial Field, an afternoon contest between the visiting Braves and home team A’s took place, followed by a special, under-the-lights nightcap featuring the Cards and the Rockies in the Majors division. In the AAA division, which is comprised of players in the 9-11 age group, the Braves fell behind early, but soon found life in their aluminum as they erupted for double-digit runs en route to a 13-6 victory over the A’s. The second game of the championship doubleheader saw the Cards hold off a furious last inning comeback attempt, highlighted by a two-run homer by Rockies’ Jake Kirane, to capture the Majors crown by the score of 6-5.


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Pelham Little League Crowns Triple A and Majors Champs, Braves Scalp A’s while Cards Deal Rockies a Blow


next seven runs, taking a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the fourth. The onslaught began with the Braves scoring one run in the second to cut the lead in half and then piling on six more runs in the top of the third. With the bases full of Braves in the third, they took the lead they would never surrender on back-to-back walks. Brandan Mercier then drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to make the score 4-2, setting the stage for the Braves’ tomahawk blow that would seal the A’s fate. Big stick Dereck Wentzell hit a fly ball deep down the right field line that literally landed on the chalk and rolled to the fence. Wentzell, with four bases in mind, ran the 240 feet to pay dirt and recalled the hit: “I felt pressure at the plate [with the bases loaded] when I first got up.” After making contact and seeing how far the ball had gone, the Braves’ slugger recalled his trip around the bases: “I stumbled a little [coming around


In afternoon action, the Braves got five strong innings from starter and winning pitcher Brandan Mercier to capture the 2011 AAA title. The Braves, after going down in order in the top of the first, saw their opponents take the early lead in the home half of the first. A’s Colby Shawver reached on an infield error then stole second. After Michael Costello lined back to the box, Andrew Schneider scorched a single to centerfield, leading to an eventual runners on second and third situation. The two runners scored on an ensuing passed ball, giving the A’s an early 2-0 lead, albeit short-lived. The sequence of events also provided the quote of the day. As Schneider motored in all the way from second base to score on the passed ball, Costello, from inside a jubilant A’s dugout, sent out a little friendly jab to his teammate: “I never saw you run that fast—what was there, a hot wing waiting at the plate for ya?” Unfortunately for the A’s, the Braves got hot from there and proceeded to score the game’s


Te Majors Division Champion Cardinals display their hardware for winning the title


Rockies’ Jake Kirane gets congratulated by Coach Joe DeLoreto after his dramatic, sixth-inning homer that pulled his team to within a run


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Te AAA Division Champion Braves and coaches proudly display their trophies


third base], but I knew I was gonna make it.” The A’s scored a single run in their half of the fourth, but the Braves answered with two in the fifth as well as four more in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach. Although they were 10 runs down, the A’s attempted to battle back in their last at-bat by plating three runs before Wentzell, in relief, snuffed-out the A’s mini rally. Braves’ starting pitcher Brandan Mercier was pulled after five innings due to reaching the 75-pitch limit. During his stint on the mound, Mercier was masterful, striking out nine opposing batters while not allowing a single base on balls. After the game when asked how he felt about the team’s championship victory, the Braves’ ace simply replied, “Awesome—feels awesome.” With thunder in the background and the wind


picking up, there was some concern that the night game would be rained out. However, the game between the Cards and the Rockies did get underway in a very timely manner. The battle for Majors’ supremacy featured two teams that had swept their earlier round opponents in order to meet in the championship game. The pitching


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match-up featured the team’s respective aces, with Jake Brown going for the Cards, while the Rockies countered with the tall and athletic Cameron DeLoreto. The game moved at a swift pace as pitching—as suspected—dominated early on. It was in the top of third inning when the Rockies entered the scorebook. An infield hit by Richie Tarpey, as he hustled down the first-base line, allowed teammate Ben Pelletier to cross the plate from third, giving the Rockies a 1-0 lead. Tarpey eventually scored on a passed ball and the Rockies held a 2-0 lead with the Cards coming up. A nice opposite field single between the Rockies’ shortstop and third baseman by Zack Koch, followed by a great at-bat, RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Cardinal Kyle Frank, were instrumental in the home team tying the score at two apiece after three innings of play. The Cardinals struck again in the home half of the fourth, thanks in part to an RBI double off the bat of Zack Koch. Entering the top of the fifth, the Cards had doubled up the Rockies and held a 4-2 lead. Cards starting pitcher Jake Brown, due to pitch count restrictions, was pulled after tossing 4.1 innings of one-hit, six-strikeout ball, yielding to reliever Zach Koch. After shutting down the Rockies in the fifth, the Cards proceeded to pick up a few more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. After chasing Rockies starter DeLoreto from


continued to page 15 - Champs


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staff photos by Marc Ayotte


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