BERLIN– The town is on the verge of bringing home its second Little League state title in as many weeks.
Three days after the Intermediate All-Stars won their fourth-straight state title, the 9-10 All-Stars won a pair of slaughter rule-shortened games during the opening rounds of their state tournament.
Berlin won 21-2 in four innings over Rising Sun on Saturday, July 12, then toppled Hughesville 15-5 in five innings on the following day.
On Tuesday the team advanced to the state championship game, beating Brunswick 9-3 in six innings. Starting pitcher Ashten Snelsire went 4 2/3 innings and allowed just two hits.
“I think we came out with the right mindset early on in the game,” said Coach Eric Snelsire. “We got some big plays defensively in the first inning. Our center fielder Kellen Catrino made two huge catches – one clearly saved a double – and it helped minimize the amount of pitches that Ashten had to throw. Ashten pitched a great game and his defense probably made six or eight awesome plays behind him.”
After shutting down Brunswick in the top half of the inning, the team scored five runs in the bottom half. They added three more in the second inning to push the lead to 8-0.
“Ashten continued to pitch really well and confidently, and there were at least eight plays made behind him that were really high level plays for this age group,” Snelsire said. “That was really the turning point to secure the win.”
Berlin will play for the state championship on Thursday night against the winner of the loser’s bracket.
Berlin’s Intermediate All-Stars went 6-0 in district and state tournaments. The 9-10 team is now 7-0 at the district and state level.
“The Intermediate team set a precedent when they were 9 and 10 years old that has never really been broken,” Snelsire said. “Their coach, Cameron McDonough, and that team really paved the way for the team that I’m coaching now and really set the example for how we play baseball in Berlin. We’ve got some great programs that our kids participate in year-round that helps them get better in the winter months, and a lot of areas don’t have that luxury. It’s elevated the level of baseball in Berlin, and I give Cameron McDonough a lot of credit. He had a vision with that team and he made us all believers.”
If the 9-10 team wins the state championship they will join the Intermediate squad at the Regional Tournament. Fundraisers to offset travel costs are tentatively planned at the Greene Turtle on 116th Street in Ocean City.
Three days after the Intermediate All-Stars won their fourth-straight state title, the 9-10 All-Stars won a pair of slaughter rule-shortened games during the opening rounds of their state tournament.
Berlin won 21-2 in four innings over Rising Sun on Saturday, July 12, then toppled Hughesville 15-5 in five innings on the following day.
On Tuesday the team advanced to the state championship game, beating Brunswick 9-3 in six innings. Starting pitcher Ashten Snelsire went 4 2/3 innings and allowed just two hits.
“I think we came out with the right mindset early on in the game,” said Coach Eric Snelsire. “We got some big plays defensively in the first inning. Our center fielder Kellen Catrino made two huge catches – one clearly saved a double – and it helped minimize the amount of pitches that Ashten had to throw. Ashten pitched a great game and his defense probably made six or eight awesome plays behind him.”
After shutting down Brunswick in the top half of the inning, the team scored five runs in the bottom half. They added three more in the second inning to push the lead to 8-0.
“Ashten continued to pitch really well and confidently, and there were at least eight plays made behind him that were really high level plays for this age group,” Snelsire said. “That was really the turning point to secure the win.”
Berlin will play for the state championship on Thursday night against the winner of the loser’s bracket.
Berlin’s Intermediate All-Stars went 6-0 in district and state tournaments. The 9-10 team is now 7-0 at the district and state level.
“The Intermediate team set a precedent when they were 9 and 10 years old that has never really been broken,” Snelsire said. “Their coach, Cameron McDonough, and that team really paved the way for the team that I’m coaching now and really set the example for how we play baseball in Berlin. We’ve got some great programs that our kids participate in year-round that helps them get better in the winter months, and a lot of areas don’t have that luxury. It’s elevated the level of baseball in Berlin, and I give Cameron McDonough a lot of credit. He had a vision with that team and he made us all believers.”
If the 9-10 team wins the state championship they will join the Intermediate squad at the Regional Tournament. Fundraisers to offset travel costs are tentatively planned at the Greene Turtle on 116th Street in Ocean City.