Codey in Control as Pittsfield Babe Ruth 13s Open Regional with Win
WESTFIELD, Mass. — Jay Codey allowed no earned runs in six-plus innings Friday to lead the Pittsfield Babe Ruth 13-year-old All-Stars to 10-2 win over Tri-County, Maine, in their opening game of the New England Regionals.
Codey needed just 75 pitches to get to his third batter and struck out five in getting the win as Pittsfield went to 1-0 on pool play.
"Jay has been efficient, all season -- in house league and travel," Pittsfield Manager Elmar Uy said. "He is able to go very deep in the game with minimal pitches. It's aweseome.
"With the potential to play six games in six or seven days, we need all the pitching we can get, so it was really helpful."
Simon Mele keyed Pittsfield’s offense, going 3-for-4 with a triple, two doubles and three runs batted in.
Codey may have been able to get the complete game except for back-to-back errors to open the bottom of the second.
He gave the ball to Matt Egan with unearned runners on second and third and a 2-2 count to the hitter. Egan finished off that batter with a swinging strike, but the Mainers got a one-out hit to score their first run.
A second run ultimately scored on a ball to the backstop, but Egan ended the game with a strikeout to strand runners at the corners.
Pittsfield jumped on the board with two in the first. Quentin Christopher led off with an infield single, stole second and scored on Mele’s triple. Mele came home on Morrie Fried’s infield single to make it 2-0.
Mele doubled to left to lead off another two-run inning in the third.
"Simon was huge today at the plate," Uy said. "He had a little trouble in the field, but he picked it up at the plate. So it's good to see him keep his head up and not get discouraged. He's one of our leaders on the team, so we need that."
In the fifth, pinch-hitter David Wildgoose hit a one-out single to left, stole second and scored when Egan reached on an error.
The only thing going against Pittsfield over the first six innings was its offensive efficiency. It had a 5-0 lead but it had stranded 10 runners on base through six.
"Unfortunately, that's been a little bit of trouble for us," Uy said. "The first few game, we left an army on the bases. But I'm comfortable we'll pick it up."
His team started to reverse that trend in the top of the seventh, batting around and plating five runs. Mele capped the rally with a two-run double down the third base line.
Pittsfield’s 13s play Lyndon, Vt., on Saturday afternoon.
15-Year-Old New England Regional
Eastern Mass 3, Pittsfield 0
TRUMBLE, Conn. -- Jack Connor of Eastern Massachusetts Champion Braintree struck out 12 and allowed just one hit in leading his team to a 3-0 win over the Western Mass champs from Pittsfield.
Braintree scored a run in the second on a Cal Youtious RBI single. In the bottom of the third, Braintree added two more on a two-out, two-run single by Joe Grant.
Pittsfield played well defensively, getting two double plays up the middle from the combination of shortstop Christian Salzarulo and second baseman Nick Brindle.
"Hitting wasn't in the cards today for Pittsfield as Connor worked very efficiently," Pittsfield coach Paul Brindle said.
In addition to a hit by Tommy Mullin, Pittsfield got a pair of baserunners on a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
Damon Pause worked complete game on the mound for Pittsfield, striking out three and allowing seven hits and four walks.
The Western Mass champs continue pool play Saturday night against host Trumbull.
14-Year-Old New England Regional
ROCHESTER, N.H. -- Pittsfield's 14-year-old All-Stars opened pool play with a 6-2 win over host Rochester.
Pittsfield Saturday afternoon will take on Franklin County, Vt.
