Coco’s Walkoff Hit Propels Hot Dog Ranch to PIttsfield Little League Title
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Carmelo Coco drove in the winning run in the bottom of the sixth as Hot Dog Ranch rallied from behind for the walkoff win in the championship game of the Pittsfield Little League on Friday.
Sawyer Layne struck out eight hitters in three innings on the mound and hit a game-tying homer to lead off the sixth as Hot Dog Ranch took a 4-3 win over East Side Cafe to decide the first title of the newly unified Pittsfield LL.
East Side Cafe took a lead early at Clapp Park when Hector Reyes drove in a pair of runs with a shot to center field to make it 2-0.
Hot Dog Ranch threatened in the bottom of the frame with a walk and a double, but East Side's Mike Ressler (eight strikeouts) ended the threat with back-to-back Ks.
In the second, Layne took away two hits from East Side Cafe with back-to-back fielding plays, and his offense rewarded him right away.
Troy Choquette drove in a pair of runs to tie the game after three.
In the fourth, Choquette moved to the mound with the bases loaded and got out of the jam to keep it a 2-2 game.
In the sixth, East Side Cafe's Jeremiah Bullett hit a deep drive to left field for a ground rule double. And Mateo Herrera drove him home with a single to give his team a 3-2 lead.
Hot Dog Ranch ended the inning with a defensive gem, getting a runner hung up on the base paths before throwing home for the final out, keeping it a one-run game and setting the stage for the sixth-inning heroics.
Layne hit a 3-2 pitch over the fence to tie the game, 3-3. Hot Dog Ranch then got a pair of singles and a walk ahead of Coco, who ended the game with his walkoff hit.
After the game, Hot Dog Ranch coach Matt Mazzeo had a message for his 12-year-olds moving on after this season.
"Good luck in Babe Ruth, guys," Mazzeo said. "You're all All-Stars."
An earlier version of this story misidentified the player with the game-winning hit.
