Pittsfield Nationals Win Jimmy Fund Classic
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Danny Hoffman went 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs Wednesday to lead the Pittsfield Nationals to a 16-3 win over Dalton-Hinsdale in the championship game of the 31t John Codey Jimmy Fund Classic.
It was a big night all around for the Nationals, who also claimed the tournament’s prize for the highest fund-raising team. And Pittsfield NL’s Kai Laframboise was named the top individual fund-raiser for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
The Nats wasted no time taking control of the title game, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning.
Laframboise had a single, and Hoffman hit a two-run triple to right and scored on an overthrow in the inning.
Dalton-Hinsdale responded quickly, taking advantage of three walks to load the bases ahead of C.J. Wilds’ two-run single to make 6-2 at the end of one.
In the top of the second, Dalton-Hinsdale got a big lift when shortstop Leah Melle speared a hard line drive off the bat of Hoffman to deny a base hit and retire the side with a runner on base.
And Dalton-Hinsdale rode that momentum to a run in the bottom of the frame, when Ryker Williams worked a leadoff walk and eventually scored on Sully Duquette’s bases-loaded walk.
But that was all the offense that Pittsfield National pitchers Weston Wigglesworth and Kody Lesser allowed.
The combined to strike out 11, and they stranded 10 base runners over the first five innings.
The Nats’ offense, meanwhile, scratched out a run in the fourth on Hoffman’s sacrifice fly to plate Lesser and three in the fifth.
Those three runs in the fifth came on four base hits, with Maxx Ferguson, Damian McCluskey and Ryder Froio reaching to start the inning – Froio on a two-run double. He ended up scoring on an RBI groundout by Logan Slater.
After going ahead, 10-3 through five, the Nats tacked on six more runs in the top of the sixth. McCluskey had an RBI single in the rally.
Four pitchers split time on the mound for Dalton-Hinsdale. Starter Cam Sievers and relievers Melle, Nathan Dearborn and David Duquette combined to strike out six.
The tournament finale included a presentation of the Berkshire County Jimmy Fund’s annual Jack Brennan Award to volunteer David Harmon.
Williamsport Tournament
LEOMINSTER, Mass. – The District 3 champions from Leominster Wednesday handed the Pittsfield Little League American Division 12-year-old All-Stars a 6-1 defeat in the Section 1 tournament.
Pittsfield drops into the elimination bracket, where it will be home on Thursday at Deming Park at 5:30 against Rutland. The winner will advance to the championship round that is set to begin on Friday night back at Leominster.
Thursday’s game will be a rematch of Pittsfield American’s tournament opener. On Tuesday, it beat Rutland, 7-2.
Rutland stayed alive on Wednesday night with a 15-4 win over Amherst.
