The Colonie Little League 12-year-old all-stars faced elimination from the Mid-Atlantic Regionals following a 5-0 loss to West Salisbury, Md., in a pool play game Monday, Aug. 4, in Bristol, Conn.
Pitchers Ethan Peterman and Dylan Smith combined on a no-hitter for West Salisbury, which dropped Colonie’s record to 1-2. Colonie needed a victory over undefeated Taney Youth Baseball Association of Philadelphia Tuesday to avoid missing the four-team cut to advance in the tournament.
Peterman walked three and struck out eight as he pitched into the fifth inning for West Salisbury (1-2). Smith came into the game with two outs in the bottom of the fifth and continued the pitching dominance, as he struck out one and allowed no walks or hits.
Ryan Mitchell drove in four of West Salisbury’s five runs against Colonie starter Pauly Montesanti. Mitchell had an RBI single in the top of the third inning and added a bases-loaded triple in the fourth to give West Salisbury a commanding lead.
Colonie began its regional run in style with a 6-3 victory over Northwest Washington Little League Friday, Aug. 1.
Colonie scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Collin McDonough worked a leadoff walk and came home on Jimmy Davis’ double. Davis moved to third on the throw home and scored Colonie’s second run on Ian Parker’s groundout.
Colonie took advantage of three Northwest Washington errors in the second inning. Zane Nelsen singled to left field and moved to second on a miscue by the outfielder. Montesanti then reached first on a dropped third strike, and an errant throw by the catcher allowed Montesanti to go to second and Nelsen to score from second.
Montesanti moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored on McDonough’s single to give Colonie a 4-0 lead. Davis doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. Following a strikeout, Parker reached base on an error by Northwest Washington’s shortstop, which allowed McDonough to score, but Davis was thrown out at home plate to end the second inning.
Northwest Washington — representing the District of Columbia — closed the gap to 5-3 with three runs in the bottom of the third inning, but Davis singled and scored an insurance run in the top of the sixth for Colonie.
Toms River, N.J., turned the tables on Colonie Sunday, Aug. 3. Toms River scored four runs in the first inning and two more in the second before holding on for a 6-4 victory.
Jason Kapp belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to give Toms River a 4-0 lead. Three walks, a groundout and a wild pitch led to two more Toms River runs in the second inning.
Errors helped Colonie cut the deficit in the top of the fifth inning. Colonie got its first three runners on base, and a miscue by Toms River’s third baseman allowed Ben Farrell and Christian Brennan to score. Three batters later, an error on Parker’s ground ball allowed Nelsen and Montesanti to come home to make the score 6-4.
That was as close as Toms River allowed Colonie to get. The New Jersey representatives shut Colonie down in the top of the sixth inning to prevail by two runs.
In other Colonie Little Legaue news, the 11-year-old all-stars claimed the New York state title by beating Massapequa 22-12 in the championship game Tuesday, July 29, outside Rochester.