Fast Start Lifts Great Barrington Little Leaguers
DALTON, Mass. — Great Barrington held off a determined Dalton comeback attempt, using a strong offensive start and clutch pitching late to secure a 7-5 victory in Don Gleason District 1 Little League Tournament action on Wednesday night.
The win was powered by a four-run first inning and a steady defensive effort that helped the team withstand Dalton’s late push.
Great Barrington couldn’t have asked for a better start offensively. Ivey Weller worked a leadoff walk to get things going before Tyler Warren reached on an error to put two runners aboard with nobody out. Satchel Fisher immediately made Dalton pay, driving a double into the outfield to score both runners and give Great Barrington an early 2-0 advantage. Just one batter later, Harlan Kohler added an even bigger swing, launching a two-run home run to cap a four-run opening inning. Although Dalton was able to retire Hunter Havens, Ezekiel McLaughlin, and Julian Winters to end the frame, Great Barrington had already built a comfortable cushion.
Dalton responded in the bottom of the first and showed it wasn’t going away quietly. Graylan Milano opened the inning with a single before Parker Demarsh worked a walk. During the next at-bat, a lengthy rundown allowed Milano to cross the plate, though Demarsh was eventually tagged out to record the second out of the play. Tony Zaniboni followed with a single to keep the inning alive, but Great Barrington starter Tyler Warren settled in and retired the next batter to limit the damage and preserve a 4-1 lead.
Great Barrington added another run in the second inning after Mason Blackwell singled and Weston Tremont drew a walk. Owen Saunders followed with a base hit to load the bases before Sam Sturgis reached on a fielder’s choice. Weller came through with an RBI single to push the lead to 5-1, though Dalton escaped a larger inning by recording a pop out with the bases still loaded.
Dalton threatened again in the bottom half of the inning when Johnny Morrow singled and Camden Packard reached after being hit by a pitch, but Warren worked around the traffic. A strikeout and a ground ball ended the inning, keeping Great Barrington comfortably in front.
Both teams were quiet in the third. Joseph Racicot came on in relief for Dalton and retired the side in order, while Warren answered with another scoreless inning. After Joey Henault singled for Dalton, Great Barrington erased the threat with a strikeout and an inning-ending double play.
Great Barrington manufactured another couple of runs in the fourth. McLaughlin was hit by a pitch before Winters and Liam De Ris each drew walks to load the bases. Blackwell delivered another single to keep the pressure on, and although Dalton recorded back-to-back strikeouts, Saunders broke for home and scored on a successful steal to make it 6-1 before the inning came to an end.
Fisher took over on the mound in the bottom of the fourth and immediately delivered a clean inning. After allowing a leadoff single to Milano, he struck out Parker Demarsh before inducing a pop out and a groundout to keep Dalton off the scoreboard.
Dalton mounted its biggest rally in the fifth inning. Corbin Carlow and Morrow each singled before Packard drew a walk to load the bases. After a strikeout, Brayden Sievers ripped a two-run triple to cut the deficit and give Dalton new life. The rally continued when Henault drew a walk, but Great Barrington came up with one of the game’s biggest defensive plays by throwing out Sievers trying to steal home. Fisher then finished the inning with another strikeout, preventing Dalton from pulling any closer.
Dalton made one final push in its last at-bat. Theo Smith was retired to begin the inning before Milano collected his third hit of the game. Tye Shove followed with a run-scoring triple to trim the deficit once again and bring the tying run closer to the plate. Fisher remained composed, recording consecutive strikeouts to slam the door and secure the 7-5 victory.
Fisher finished with a two-run double at the plate before closing out the game on the mound, while Kohler’s first-inning two-run home run proved to be the biggest hit of the afternoon. Weller, Blackwell, Havens, Saunders, and Winters also played key roles in a balanced Great Barrington offensive attack. Dalton was led by Milano’s three-hit performance and Sievers’ clutch two-run triple, but Great Barrington’s fast start proved to be enough as it advanced with a 7-5 win.
Dalton-Hinsdale has one more pool play game remaining, Thursday against Lanesborough at 5:30 p.m. at Chamberlain Park.
Standings: t-1. Adams-Cheshire, Pittsfield, 3-0; 3. Great Barrington, 2-2; t-4. Dalton-Hinsdale, Lanesborough, 0-3.
