Herrera, Pittsfield Americans Top Great Barrington in District Final
ADAMS, Mass. – Sebastian Herrera provided some offensive highlights at this month’s Don Gleason District 1 Little League Championships.
But it was his pitching that propelled the Pittsfield American Division 12-year-old All-Stars to a 13-0 win over Great Barrington in Thursday’s district title game.
Herrera struck out 10 and allowed just one hit in four innings as Pittsfield American ended the game early via the mercy rule.
He struck out the side in the fourth, ending the game on a called third strike with a runner on second after a walk and a pitch that got to the backstop.
“He’s hard to hit,” Pittsfield American manager Ty Perrault said “He struggles sometimes with his control, but the stuff he has is so good that he’s our No. 1 even when he’s not throwing well.
“Seventy percent of him is still better than anybody else.”
Herrera has been a force on the mound throughout the tournament for Pittsfield American, which finished pool play 4-0 going into Thursday’s championship. He also has been a force at the plate, collecting three home runs and numerous walks – intentional and otherwise.
He also has, at times, had trouble finding the plate, and that showed up again Thursday with four walks in four innings.
But when he needed to clamp down, he did.
In the top of the third with the score 7-0, Great Barrington’s Mateo Buffoni worked a one-out walk, and leadoff hitter John Ireland dropped a single into left field to set up first and third.
But Herrera got the next hitter looking and the final out swinging at a 1-2 pitch to strand a pair.
“Tanner Hanford calls all the pitches, and he does a fantastic job with all our pitchers,” Perrault said. “He has no problem calling non-fastballs, other pitches. Sebastian has a good command and sometimes better than he does on his fastball. So he can definitely mix it up in any situation. In that case, he had to throw a few breaking balls, even when he’s behind in the count.”
After giving up a walk to start the game and retiring the next three hitters in order, the Americans got to work with their bats right away in the bottom of the first.
Herrera drew a one-out walk and went to third on Brendan Merwin’s single. Merwin took second on the throw on that play, and both ended up scoring on an error off the bat of Mario Zerbato. Zerbato ended up coming home on another miscue to make it 3-0 after one.
Pittsfield American tacked on four more runs in the second, which started with a leadoff single from Jonathan Parsons to bring up the top of the order.
Ben Sykes singled up the middle, and Herrera again walked ahead of Merwin, whose three-run triple made it a 6-0 game.
“Statistically, Brendan is our second best hitter from a batting average standpoint, so that’s why we like to put him there right behind Sebastian,” Perrault said. “Because people are going to be careful with Sebastian, but when you have a really good hitter like Brendan and then Mario [Zerbato] behind him, they’re going to think twice about walking him as opposed to taking their chances pitching.”
Merwin, who went 3-for-3 in Thursday’s game, scored on a passed ball to make it 7-0 after two.
Pittsfield American put the game away with a six-run third that featured five hits, including RBI singles from Herrera, Zerbato and Eli Kristenson.
Oliver Donovan and Finn Mason split the pitching duties for Great Barrington, combining to strike out five.
After the game, Perrault took a moment to compliment Great Barrington on its effort Thursday night, throughout the tournament and over the years.
“You guys are a great team,” he said. “We’ve developed a little rivalry over the years, and I’m actually going to miss you guys, because you make us come out and have to play our hardest because you’re such a great team. Last year, right down to the wire. We played two games in the fall, and they were great games and our two games here.
“I’m going to miss the [players] who move on. I know Great Barrington will be back in this place next year. Hopefully, we’ll be right there with you.”
