(July 25, 2014) Overcoming an
early-inning scare, the Berlin Intermediate All-Star team advanced to the
regional semifinals after thrashing New York, 17-5, on Tuesday.

“That New York team came out like
gangbusters on us,” said Berlin Coach Cameron McDonough. “We scored five in the
top of the first and they came right back and scored four in the bottom of the
first. (Starting pitcher) Mathew Kinsey settled down for us and did a real good
job of settling in and not allowing himself to get upset. He got through the
second inning clean and Jack Rosenberg came in and pitched the third and the
fourth.”

The team limited the innings of their
pitchers to keep all of their players eligible for the start of the semifinal
round, which was set for Thursday, July 24.

Wes Powell finished the game on the
mound for Berlin, although his biggest contributions that day were at the
plate.

“Wes was a monster today,” McDonough
said after the game. “He hit three home runs and a double – he was absolutely
smashing the ball – and Billy Wheatley hit an absolute bomb that might still be
traveling.”

Kinsey also added a home run.

Berlin’s team, now representing
Maryland in the tournament, is undefeated in four regional games, winning 18-0
against Connecticut last Saturday, 24-4 against New Hampshire on Sunday and 7-4
over New Jersey on Monday. Tristan McDonough hit two home runs against
Connecticut, followed by three more against New Jersey. 

“It puts us in a position that we’ve
never been in before in the regional tournament,” McDonough said. “We’ve never
been in the driver’s seat where we’re the No. 1 seed coming out of our pool
where we feel like we have our pitching – for the most part – lined up the way
we want it. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but it’s definitely the
best-case scenario coming out of pool play, being 4-0 and having that one seed
and not having to play a No. 1 seed from the other pool right out of the gate.
It’ll definitely be a challenge, but we’re set up to make a go at it.”

McDonough said this year’s squad is “by
far” the most complete team he has ever coached.

“As far as top-to-bottom strength it’s
amazing,” he said. “I’m running out of slots to bat these guys. The funny part
is I’m subbing a guy out who just hit a double his last time up, and then the
next guy comes in and hits a double. It becomes a real challenge, but they are
definitely the most complete and the most explosive team we’ve ever had.”

A new player seems to step into the
spotlight during each game.

“We seem to have more guys contributing
on a consistent basis, and all it takes is for one guy to have an above-average
game and he’s the guy that steps up that day,” McDonough said. “It seems like
we never know who’s going to have that big performance, but we know one or two
guys are going to have it every time.”

Berlin was the first team to clinch a
spot in the semifinals. When play began on Thursday, only three other teams
remained. Competition is now down to single elimination.

“It’s win or go home,” said McDonough.

Two more wins will send the team to
California to play in the Little League World Series in August. Coach McDonough
is confident his team can get the job done.

“I think these boys better pack their
bags, because we’re getting ready to go to Cali.,” he said. “That’s what I
really think. We’re definitely the team to beat.”

The team is currently trying to raise
funds to make the trip to California. Mail donations to Berlin Little League
Baseball, P.O. Box 514, Berlin, Md., 21811. For more information call
410-641-3782.