BERLIN– One year after a heartbreaking loss in the regional semifinals ended their season, the Berlin Intermediate All Stars won their first Little League World Series game, 8-2, on Tuesday, July 29 in Livermore, Ca.
Wes Powell threw a complete game, allowing just one earned run on three hits over seven innings in the win over the Central All Stars from Michigan. Powell also drove in three runs, and Matt Kinsey hit a two-run homer in the win.
“Wes Powell did such a great job today,” said Manager Cameron McDonough. “He worked the bottom half of the zone all day, and we made a lot of great plays behind him. We didn’t have our best day at the plate, but Wes had an awesome day on the mound.”
Representing the East Region, the thus far undefeated Berlin All Stars have outscored their opponents nearly 5-1 this summer, averaging 14 runs per game. Berlin played the Southwest All-Star team from Midland, Tx. Wednesday.
Berlin routed Commack North, New York 13-6 last Friday, July 25 to advance to the Little League World Series.
“The boys came out and you could tell they were just ready to seize that moment,” McDonough said. “They had been so close a couple of times before and we let it get away from us. You could just tell they weren’t going to leave any doubt.”
Jack Rosenberg pitched 4 1/3 innings in the win.
“(Rosenberg) gave us an amazing performance on the mound today,” McDonough said. “He really stepped up and gave us a really special performance.”
McDonough singled out Hayden Snelsire’s play at second base as an early turning point.
“He made a diving play up the middle and was able to throw the runner out at second base to end the inning, and it took the wind out of their sails a little bit,” he said.
Having seized the momentum, Berlin scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning, including a home run by Snelsire, making it 6-1.
“He did a great job of stepping up and having a great day at the plate and in the field,” McDonough said. “Ryan Duncan made some real nice plays out in right field. He had four or five balls that were really well-hit balls that he went and got.”
Powell threw 2 and 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, and the offense, prolific all summer, continued to put points on the scoreboard. Snelsire and Duncan each had two RBIs and Billy Wheatley led the team with three hits.
The All Stars flew back to Maryland after the game and had a single day off before flying to California.
“I’m so proud of these boys,” said Coach Bill Wheatley. “We have a special bunch.”
“If we play the way we played up here the rest of those teams are in trouble,” McDonough said. “I told our guys for a long time it’s not about who we play – it’s about what we do. If we play our game and play to the best of our ability, I really don’t think there are very many teams in the world that can match us – but we’re getting ready to find out.”
The team’s motto has been “I believe.”
“When we left for the semifinals I stuck my head out of the hotel window and I yelled to the kids, ‘I believe … I believe that we … I believe that we will win!’” Wheatley said. “These kids believe it and I believe it. I’m telling you right now do not count Berlin out. Our goal is to beat Japan.”
Berlin’s 9-10 All-Star team won the state championship on July 17 and will play in their regional tournament on Aug. 2. Coach Eric Snelsire said the Intermediate squad’s success has provided plenty of motivation for the younger team.
“We were joking with those guys that we wanted to be the first team to win a region and they beat us to it by just a week early,” he said. “They have a really good rapport. A lot of our guys look up to those guys, so for my team at the 9-10 level to be able to develop that relationship with some of those guys – they really look up to them in the way that they play, and also the way that they handle themselves.
“The 13-year-old-team that Cameron coaches are not a real egotistical group,” Snelsire continued. “They’re real humble and they’re such a good group of players that they just handle themselves real well. That’s one thing that, as a parent and as a coach, I always point out to those guys. That’s really important for them to learn too.”
Snelsire’s son Ashten plays on the 9-10 team and his son Hayden plays for the Intermediate All Stars. Both have been major contributors.
“It’s been really special,” he said. “It’s hard that they’re 3,000 miles apart from each other right now.”
After driving to New York to watch the semifinal game, Snelsire decided to stay in town to watch the regional championship game.
“To happen to have the opportunity to see those two games was awesome for me as a dad,” he said. “Hayden hit a home run in the finals and he made a couple of really nice plays at second base. It was rewarding for me to go up there, and I was there to comfort my wife when she said, ‘I’m leaving for California on Sunday.’ That was tough.”
The coach summed up the on-field celebration following the game in just one word: jubilation.
“They had worked so hard for so many years to try to accomplish a goal and had fallen just a hair short of what they had wanted to accomplish in years previous,” he said. “I know there are three or four new guys on the team, but those guys are all part of that history and understand how important it was for these guys to keep pushing on to try to get to that ultimate goal of going to a World Series.
“It was really special,” Snelsire said. “Parents and players alike broke down in tears of joy.”
To support the Berlin Little League All-Stars mail donations to Berlin Little League Baseball, P.O. Box 5, Berlin, Md. 21811.
For more information follow both teams on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BerlinLittleLeague.org.
Wes Powell threw a complete game, allowing just one earned run on three hits over seven innings in the win over the Central All Stars from Michigan. Powell also drove in three runs, and Matt Kinsey hit a two-run homer in the win.
“Wes Powell did such a great job today,” said Manager Cameron McDonough. “He worked the bottom half of the zone all day, and we made a lot of great plays behind him. We didn’t have our best day at the plate, but Wes had an awesome day on the mound.”
Representing the East Region, the thus far undefeated Berlin All Stars have outscored their opponents nearly 5-1 this summer, averaging 14 runs per game. Berlin played the Southwest All-Star team from Midland, Tx. Wednesday.
Berlin routed Commack North, New York 13-6 last Friday, July 25 to advance to the Little League World Series.
“The boys came out and you could tell they were just ready to seize that moment,” McDonough said. “They had been so close a couple of times before and we let it get away from us. You could just tell they weren’t going to leave any doubt.”
Jack Rosenberg pitched 4 1/3 innings in the win.
“(Rosenberg) gave us an amazing performance on the mound today,” McDonough said. “He really stepped up and gave us a really special performance.”
McDonough singled out Hayden Snelsire’s play at second base as an early turning point.
“He made a diving play up the middle and was able to throw the runner out at second base to end the inning, and it took the wind out of their sails a little bit,” he said.
Having seized the momentum, Berlin scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning, including a home run by Snelsire, making it 6-1.
“He did a great job of stepping up and having a great day at the plate and in the field,” McDonough said. “Ryan Duncan made some real nice plays out in right field. He had four or five balls that were really well-hit balls that he went and got.”
Powell threw 2 and 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, and the offense, prolific all summer, continued to put points on the scoreboard. Snelsire and Duncan each had two RBIs and Billy Wheatley led the team with three hits.
The All Stars flew back to Maryland after the game and had a single day off before flying to California.
“I’m so proud of these boys,” said Coach Bill Wheatley. “We have a special bunch.”
“If we play the way we played up here the rest of those teams are in trouble,” McDonough said. “I told our guys for a long time it’s not about who we play – it’s about what we do. If we play our game and play to the best of our ability, I really don’t think there are very many teams in the world that can match us – but we’re getting ready to find out.”
The team’s motto has been “I believe.”
“When we left for the semifinals I stuck my head out of the hotel window and I yelled to the kids, ‘I believe … I believe that we … I believe that we will win!’” Wheatley said. “These kids believe it and I believe it. I’m telling you right now do not count Berlin out. Our goal is to beat Japan.”
Berlin’s 9-10 All-Star team won the state championship on July 17 and will play in their regional tournament on Aug. 2. Coach Eric Snelsire said the Intermediate squad’s success has provided plenty of motivation for the younger team.
“We were joking with those guys that we wanted to be the first team to win a region and they beat us to it by just a week early,” he said. “They have a really good rapport. A lot of our guys look up to those guys, so for my team at the 9-10 level to be able to develop that relationship with some of those guys – they really look up to them in the way that they play, and also the way that they handle themselves.
“The 13-year-old-team that Cameron coaches are not a real egotistical group,” Snelsire continued. “They’re real humble and they’re such a good group of players that they just handle themselves real well. That’s one thing that, as a parent and as a coach, I always point out to those guys. That’s really important for them to learn too.”
Snelsire’s son Ashten plays on the 9-10 team and his son Hayden plays for the Intermediate All Stars. Both have been major contributors.
“It’s been really special,” he said. “It’s hard that they’re 3,000 miles apart from each other right now.”
After driving to New York to watch the semifinal game, Snelsire decided to stay in town to watch the regional championship game.
“To happen to have the opportunity to see those two games was awesome for me as a dad,” he said. “Hayden hit a home run in the finals and he made a couple of really nice plays at second base. It was rewarding for me to go up there, and I was there to comfort my wife when she said, ‘I’m leaving for California on Sunday.’ That was tough.”
The coach summed up the on-field celebration following the game in just one word: jubilation.
“They had worked so hard for so many years to try to accomplish a goal and had fallen just a hair short of what they had wanted to accomplish in years previous,” he said. “I know there are three or four new guys on the team, but those guys are all part of that history and understand how important it was for these guys to keep pushing on to try to get to that ultimate goal of going to a World Series.
“It was really special,” Snelsire said. “Parents and players alike broke down in tears of joy.”
To support the Berlin Little League All-Stars mail donations to Berlin Little League Baseball, P.O. Box 5, Berlin, Md. 21811.
For more information follow both teams on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BerlinLittleLeague.org.