Adams-Cheshire Tops Great Barrington Behind Strong Pitching in Little League Opener
DALTON, Mass. — Adams-Cheshire leaned on a dominant pitching performance and capitalized on its scoring opportunities to defeat Great Barrington 3-1 in a Don Gleason District 1 12U All-Star Tournament matchup on Wednesday.
The game opened as a pitchers’ duel, with both teams held scoreless through the first two innings. Great Barrington starter Julian Winters struck out the first two batters he faced before working around a two-out baserunner in the opening inning. Adams-Cheshire starter Maddox Milesi matched him with a clean first, retiring the side in order on a groundout and a pair of fly balls.
Adams-Cheshire threatened first in the second inning. Nate Mallet and Avry Decker worked walks before Danny Collins reached on a fielder’s choice and Lukas Benson drew another walk to load the bases. Great Barrington escaped the jam thanks to a heads-up defensive play from catcher Satchel Fisher, who threw out a runner attempting to score to end the inning and preserve the scoreless tie.
Great Barrington had an opportunity of its own in the bottom half after Hunter Havens singled and Ezekiel McLaughlin reached safely. With runners aboard, Milesi kept his composure and recorded the final out of the inning, ensuring neither team could capitalize through two frames.
The breakthrough came in the third. After Caleb Gladu was retired and Justin Mayotte Jr. struck out, Caden Stump extended the inning with a walk. Lador Lawson then drove a ball into the gap for an RBI triple, putting Adams-Cheshire on the board. Mason Kucka followed immediately with an RBI single to left, giving the visitors a 2-0 advantage heading into the bottom half.
Lawson took over on the mound in the third and quickly established control. The right-hander struck out the side in his first inning of relief and continued to keep Great Barrington hitters off balance with a steady mix of strikes and soft contact. He allowed just one run over the final four innings while piling up nine strikeouts to preserve the lead.
Great Barrington broke through in the fourth. Ivey Weller led off with a single before showcasing some speed by stealing both second and third. A throw on the play skipped away, allowing Weller to score and trim the deficit to 2-1. Harlan Kohler later singled to keep the inning alive, but Lawson stranded the runner to maintain Adams-Cheshire’s one-run edge.
The pitching remained the story in the fifth. Great Barrington turned to Fisher, who delivered one of the game’s most impressive innings by striking out all three batters he faced. Adams-Cheshire answered by working around two baserunners in the bottom half, preserving the slim lead as the game entered the final inning.
The designated visitors found an important insurance run in the sixth. Lawson opened the inning with his second triple of the afternoon and later crossed the plate on a passed ball to extend the advantage to 3-1. Nate Mallet and Avry Decker followed with consecutive singles, but Great Barrington prevented any further damage.
Facing its final three outs, Great Barrington looked to rally in the bottom of the sixth. Weller reached safely once again and advanced into scoring position after an error, but Lawson responded with another strikeout before Adams-Cheshire recorded the final out to secure the victory.
Lawson starred on both sides of the ball, finishing with two triples, an RBI and two runs scored while also turning in three dominant innings of relief. Kucka added an RBI single, while Milesi, Mallet and Decker each contributed hits in a balanced offensive effort.
For Great Barrington, Weller reached base twice, scored the club’s lone run and applied pressure on the bases throughout the afternoon. Havens, Kohler and Mason Blackwell each collected hits, while Fisher shined both behind the plate and on the mound, recording three strikeouts in a perfect inning of relief.
The victory gives Adams-Cheshire a strong start as tournament play continues, combining effective pitching, solid defense and opportunistic offense in a complete team performance.
The tournament continues on Thursday when Dalton-Hinsdale hosts Pittsfield at 5:30 p.m. Adams-Cheshire is off until Sunday when it plays Dalton-Hinsdale. Great Barrington plays Lanesborough on Friday.
Standings: 1. Adams-Cheshire, 1-0; t-2. Dalton-Hinsdale, Lanesborough, PIttsfield, 0-0; 5. Great Barrington, 0-1.
