ADAMS, Mass. – Caden Stump got off to a rocky start for the Adams-Cheshire 10-year-old Little League All-Stars on Wednesday night.

 

He was rock solid the rest of the way, pitching his team to a 14-5 win over Dalton-Hinsdale in Game 1 of the District 1 Tournament.

 

Stump gave up two walks, a single, a double and two runs to the first five batters he faced at Beaver Bard Park.

 

He then caught a fly ball out and got a called third strike to leave runners at second and third and held Dalton-Hinsdale scoreless over the next three innings.

 

“He cruised from there,” Adams-Cheshire coach Marty Durant said of Stump’s performance through the middle innings. “That was huge for us. The bats came alive. That was nice.

 

“[Stump] brings that house league experience with him. He’s been pitching all year like this in house league. So, he may get a little rattled, but he settles right back down. And it’s easy when the bats come alive for him, too.”

 

Stump helped himself with a triple in the top of the first as the tournament hosts and designated visitors took a 2-0 lead.

 

Dalton-Hinsdale’s Weston Dietlin delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the first to tie the game before Stump was able to close the door.

 

And his offense rewarded him with a seven-run rally in the top of the second to take control of the game for good.

 

Three walks and an error to start the inning set the table. Stump (2-for-3) doubled, and Danny Collins doubled in a run and scored to make it 9-2, Adams-Cheshire.

 

Dietlin, the third pitcher on the mound for Dalton-Hinsdale, settled things down for his team in the third, retiring Adams-Cheshire in order.

 

But Dalton-Hinsdale’s bats went silent for three straight innings against Stump, who struck out five.

 

He did give up a couple of unearned runs in the fifth, which was finished by reliever Bentley Martin.

 

Martin struck out four in 1 and two-thirds innings of relief, allowing one run.

 

Graylan Milano went 2-for-2 with an RBI to lead Dalton-Hinsdale’s offense, which also got a double from John Morrow.

 

Adams-Cheshire (1-0) now faces Pittsfield on Thursday at 5:30 in the winners’ bracket of the double-elimination tournament. Dalton-Hinsdale will face the loser of that game on Saturday.

 

Photos from this game here.