Lionville (PA) 2, Berlin (MD) 0
The East Region tournament finally started! We got a chance to see what type of talent is truly out there today because two teams absolutely needed to win and they both went for it. For everyone, including myself who said that this was a weak regional, maybe we're wrong. Maybe its just crappy pitching decisions. This was an awesome game to watch. Old school.
Lionville went with Joe Janick and Michael Rodriguez on the mound for 50 pitches each and they were fantastic. Berlin countered with its stud, Tristan McDonough. The difference in the game was one monster swing from Lionville's Connor Kalten. The big lefty timed the overpowering fastball from McDonough and hit it a mile to right centerfield for a 1-0 lead. That run was enough to win, but just for giggles, Kalten hit an RBI single in the sixth against Berlin's relief pitching.
Janick allowed just three hits in 2 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. Rodriguez held Maryland hitless over three innings. He struck out six more. McDonough allowed just two hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out nine.
This game was fantastic and played by two very good looking teams when these guys are on the mound. McDonough impressed me a lot in the start. Berlin uses him out of the pen a lot, and he settled in nicely from the get go. After he gave up the homer, he trotted to the third base line and congratulated Kalten on his bomb. Plain and simple, these two are great players and both great kids from the times I've spoken to them.
Down to business, Maryland is going to be the three seed if New York beats D.C. If D.C. beats New York, then Maryland will be the four seed. Neither D.C. nor Maryland will have number one pitchers available at all in the semifinals. Pennsylvania is the one seed win or lose unless they give up a heck of a lot of runs to New York.
South Burlington (VT) 3, Saco (ME) 2
The trend of semifinal-worthy games continued in the second game of the day. Both Saco and South Burlington rolled out top of the rotation starters to pick up necessary wins. Vermont was in a bit of a better position with two wins already, however.
Ben Tate started for Vermont (and will start the semifinal as well) and he looked dominant. His fastball was electric and Maine was overmatched early. He struck out six in 2 1/3 innings of one-hit ball. He used just 35 pitches. Maine took a 2-0 lead in the third inning after Tate departed with an RBI single from Anthony Bracamonte.
South Burlington quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a two-run single from Nick Liscinsky. Vermont 11-year old, Matt Guyette, came on to close the game and pitched a perfect 1 2/3 innings to pick up the win.
The end of the game ended a bit anti-climatic with a walk to Connor McGrath to load the bases and then a four-pitch walk to Ryan Sargent to end the game. Ethan Klesch had a huge single to start the inning.
Saco's Brogan Searle-Belanger and Luke Chessie pitched great in a combined effort. They allowed just five combined hits. Chessie will get the ball in the semifinal game if they happen to advance.
Maine is in, if CT beats Massachusetts. Maine is out of Massachusetts wins.
Newton SouthEast (MA) 9, Rye (NH) 2
Newton looked great in its win over New Hampshire on Tuesday. Brandon Lee and Zeke O'Connell pitched well to get the victory. O'Connell or Dante Taylor will probably get the ball against Connecticut in the final pool play game.
Taylor really impressed for television. He made a pair of dynamic plays in the field, went 3-for-3 at the plate with a laser home run. He had three RBI. Matt Beckles broke the game open in the in the third with a bases loaded double to deep left field. O'Connell was 2-for-2 with a double and RBI. Spencer Leger had two hits for New Hampshire.
Newark National (DE) 11, East Greenwich (NJ) 0 (5 innings)
Well, if New Jersey won this game, there could've been craziness on the final day of pool play. Instead, Newark National took care of business. Nate Hardcastle was magnificent on the mound with 4 2/3 innings of no-hit ball. He struck out 13 batters including eight of the first nine he faced. Brett Callahan got the final out for the combined and shortened no-hitter.
The Delaware bats really came alive today after 11-year old Brandon Sengphachanh blasted a grand slam in the third inning. Another 11-year old, Jack Hardcastle (2-for-3), hit a line drive homer in the fifth, and Joe Davis (2-for-3) continues to eat his Wheaties. He crushed a 3-run shot (his sixth in six games) later in the inning. Nate Hardcastle added two hits.
The win clinched a spot in the semifinals for Delaware and Maryland. New Jersey is now out. This result sets up the DC-NY game as a play-in game for the semifinals.
East Region Rankings after Day 5
1. Connecticut (3-0)
2. Vermont (3-1)
3. Pennsylvania (3-0)
4. Rhode Island (2-1)
5. Maryland (2-2)
6. Delaware (3-1)
7. Maine (1-3)
8. New York (1-2)
9. Washington D.C. (1-2)
10. Massachusetts (1-2)
11. New Jersey (1-2)
12. New Hampshire (0-3)
Random Thoughts: This was finally a full day worthy of Bristol in the past. There were great pitching, hitting, and defensive performances. Teams played to win. There was a sense of urgency. It really pumped me up for the semifinals. Tomorrow could be a huge day with Connecticut able to control a few hearts with its game against Massachusetts and of course, its basically single elimination now for Washington D.C. and New York. As you can see below, home runs are down almost one per game... strikeouts are WAY up. I think there's a few more dominant pitchers this year and hitting is a bit down overall. There's certainly no Par-Troy East NJ out there this year and Connecticut's two big arms haven't brought their home run power just yet.
Home Run Meter: 18 (Last Year: 21)
Strikeout Meter: 267 (Last Year: 235)
Prediction Record: 4-0 (Overall: 16-4) Notes: I'm back in the game!
Wednesday's Predictions: New York over D.C. 4-3, Rhode Island over New Hampshire 12-4, Connecticut over Massachusetts 6-3, Pennsylvania over New Jersey 9-4.
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