BERLIN– The Intermediate Little League All-Stars are going to New York.
The newly crowned state championship team will travel to Long Island, N.Y. to play in the East Region finals this weekend. Berlin beat the Hughesville all-star team 8-2 on Wednesday, July 9, to advance.
“The biggest storyline by far that day was Tristan McDonough,” said assistant coach Bill Wheatley. “He was the starting pitcher that day and he threw 15 strikeouts, including striking out the side in the first two innings. They didn’t even foul off a pitch until the third inning. He is a phenom.”
McDonough, who just turned 14, throws a two-seam and a four-seam fastball that tops out at 90 mph, along with a curveball, knuckleball and a sidearm fastball.
“That one they were definitely not ready for,” Wheatley said. “It almost looks like a fastball submarine – it’s so pretty. They just could not hit him.”
Hayden Snelsire went 3-4 with two runs scored, and Kevon Wharton and Ryan Duncan both drove in two runs in the win.
The team will begin regional play on Saturday, July 19.
“They divide it up by the Mid-Atlantic and what they call the northeast, so we’ll probably play someone like Delaware or Pennsylvania,” Wheatley said. “And of course if we pull this off we go to California and that’s the Little League World Series.”
Berlin’s Intermediate All-Stars have won four consecutive state titles. Last year the team made it to the semifinal round in the East Region.
“I have to tell you, this is by far the most competent team we’ve ever had,” Wheatley said. “In my opinion we are at least three deep at every position. From my standpoint as a coach – they are so coachable. You only have to tell them one time, and they make the correction and they do it. They understand that they are all baseball players.”
Wheatley said the team has come a long way.
“They were always good athletes, but few of them were true baseball players,” he said. “But now they are all true baseball players. They have learned the game and they are all very good. I think we have a good chance. I have to say that we have to be the favorite to win it.”
On Monday, the team held a fundraiser at Pizza Tugos in West Ocean City. The Intermediate All-Stars will hold another fundraiser at the Greene Turtle on 116th Street on Thursday, July 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Customers who mention the Berlin Little League Intermediate All Stars will have 20 percent of their lunch check donated to the team.
The newly crowned state championship team will travel to Long Island, N.Y. to play in the East Region finals this weekend. Berlin beat the Hughesville all-star team 8-2 on Wednesday, July 9, to advance.
“The biggest storyline by far that day was Tristan McDonough,” said assistant coach Bill Wheatley. “He was the starting pitcher that day and he threw 15 strikeouts, including striking out the side in the first two innings. They didn’t even foul off a pitch until the third inning. He is a phenom.”
McDonough, who just turned 14, throws a two-seam and a four-seam fastball that tops out at 90 mph, along with a curveball, knuckleball and a sidearm fastball.
“That one they were definitely not ready for,” Wheatley said. “It almost looks like a fastball submarine – it’s so pretty. They just could not hit him.”
Hayden Snelsire went 3-4 with two runs scored, and Kevon Wharton and Ryan Duncan both drove in two runs in the win.
The team will begin regional play on Saturday, July 19.
“They divide it up by the Mid-Atlantic and what they call the northeast, so we’ll probably play someone like Delaware or Pennsylvania,” Wheatley said. “And of course if we pull this off we go to California and that’s the Little League World Series.”
Berlin’s Intermediate All-Stars have won four consecutive state titles. Last year the team made it to the semifinal round in the East Region.
“I have to tell you, this is by far the most competent team we’ve ever had,” Wheatley said. “In my opinion we are at least three deep at every position. From my standpoint as a coach – they are so coachable. You only have to tell them one time, and they make the correction and they do it. They understand that they are all baseball players.”
Wheatley said the team has come a long way.
“They were always good athletes, but few of them were true baseball players,” he said. “But now they are all true baseball players. They have learned the game and they are all very good. I think we have a good chance. I have to say that we have to be the favorite to win it.”
On Monday, the team held a fundraiser at Pizza Tugos in West Ocean City. The Intermediate All-Stars will hold another fundraiser at the Greene Turtle on 116th Street on Thursday, July 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Customers who mention the Berlin Little League Intermediate All Stars will have 20 percent of their lunch check donated to the team.