Written by John Malone, editor
We're almost into that point of the international tournament where every state is in the final stages. A few states have wrapped up already like Utah and Alabama, others will kick their tournaments off this weekend, and the bigger states will wind down next week.
Connecticut
The sectionals began in Connecticut today and the bats were out. Bristol
Edgewood bashed six home runs in four innings against Stamford National.
Stamford ALSO bashed six home runs in the game. It was too little too late for
the Nats though as Edgewood had an 11-0 lead in the third inning. Stamford
responded with a five-spot, but Edgewood added 12 more runs in the fourth to
put the game away. Both teams conserved pitching obviously.
Now, Edgewood faces Westport in a potential matchup of the two best teams in
the state. Orange beat Seymour and awaits the winner in the winners bracket
final.
Maine
Acadians won the District 1 championship in dramatic fashion this week. In a
tie game in the bottom of the sixth, Drew Shea hit a leadoff single. He
advanced to third on a double by Jacob Mitchell. Ellsworth, making the correct baseball
move of an intentional walk failed to do so properly, and Shea scored from
third to win the district title and advance to the state tournament.
Virginia
West Springfield American won its district for the third time in a row when it
beat league-mates West Springfield National 11-1 in the final. They will look to
defend their 11-year old state championship in Lynchburg next week. The
schedule isn’t easy. WSA will face Bridgewater, the team that beat them in the
10-year old state championship game.
Fairfax National won its first district championship since 2002 with a 7-0
victory over SYA East.
Alabama
Jackson beat former United States champion Phenix City in
the state championship game to advance to the Southeast regional tournament in
Warner Robins, GA. Jackson won the state championship in 2009, its only title. EJ
Jackson and Dylon Thomas hit back-to-back home runs in the championship game.
Texas
Fort Worth Westside hasn’t won a section title in Texas West since 2002. That
season, Westside went all the way to the United States semifinals losing one of
the most memorable games of all-time, a pitcher’s duel between Aaron Alvey and
Walker Kelly. The two pitchers combined for 40 strikeouts and both pitched nine
innings (Yes it was a different time back then!). Anyway, like that team, this
Westside squad has faced elimination early and often but continues to
persevere. Read a great article about the connections and memories of the two
teams HERE.
Delaware
Millsboro won the District 3 championship from the losers’ bracket with a 7-1
victory over Lewes. Javon Toppin was masterful on the mound, completely
shutting down Lewes’ offense and striking out 10. Millsboro won six games in
eight days after dropping the first game of the tournament.
Canal battled back to the championship game in District 2 with a victory to try
and get a crack at Newark National, the two-time defending 12-year old state
champions.
In District 1, Camden-Wyoming has advanced to the winners’ bracket final with a
pair of strong victories including a 15-0 win over Smyrna-Clayton. In a 7-3 win
over Milford in the tournament opener, Tommy Pomatto struck out 14 batters. The
team hit three home runs in the win.
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