Berkshire 12U Cal Ripken Team Reaches Western Mass Semi-Final
TURNERS FALLS, Mass. -- The Berkshire All-Stars 12-and-under Cal Ripken Baseball League team last weekend advanced to the semi-finals of the Western Massachusetts State Tournament.
The Berkshire team used a 3-1 record to advance to the semis, where it led early before dropping an 18-7 decision to Ayer-Shirley.
In Berkshire's first game, Cliff Flyn and Seamus Barnes combined to strike out seven in a four-inning, 11-0 win over Narragansett.
Dylan Ely had a double and a home run, and Flynn had a two-run double. Jackson Shelsy added a single, a double an RBI.
Berkshire dropped its second game of pool play, 10-5, to Ayer-Shirley despite home runs from Ely and Michael Ward.
The team bounced back on Sunday with a pair of wins: 12-2 over Fitchburg and 4-1 over Greenfield.
Against Fitchburg, Nick Vaber hit a two-run triple to end the game. Brendan Armstrong had a single and a double, and Michael Naventi and Barnes split time on the mound.
Against Greenfield, Ely earned the win on the mound after entering the game with the bases loaded and one out in the second. Ely struck out one and benefited from a defensive gem by Shelsy to get out of the jam.
Anthony Welch and Barnes each homered in the win, sending the team on to Monday's semi-finals.
Berkshire had a 7-4 lead going to the top of the fifth before Ayer-Shirley rallied for the 18-7 win. Evan Trombley had a double and two RBIs in the loss.
