As 11-year-olds last season, Colonie won the New York State Little League title in convincing fashion.
With many of those same players back as 12-year-olds this season, Colonie is on track to make a return trip to the state tournament.
Colonie swept Tri-Village from Bethlehem to win the District 13 title last weekend and advance to the Sectional tournament, which begins Sunday, July 19.
Colonie began the best-of-three championship series with a 6-3 win against Tri-Village Friday, July 10, at Cook Park. Pinch hitter Brendan Baumann’s go-ahead RBI single started a three-run rally in the bottom of the fifth inning, which helped Colonie pull away for the win.
Pitchers Jaden Waterman and Braden Plowman combined to limit Tri-Village to three runs in six innings. Plowman also had a two-run double, to go along with RBI singles by Brendan Harris and Tyler Hufland.
The scene shifted to Tri-Village’s Delmar field Saturday, July 11, but the results were similar as Colonie prevailed 4-2 to claim the district championship.
Chris Martin got things started for Colonie with an RBI single in the top of the first inning. Then, Martin came home on Patrick Reilly’s two-run homer, which gave Colonie a 3-0 lead.
Tri-Village scored twice in the bottom of the third inning, but that’s all Reilly allowed. Reilly pitched five strong innings before turning things over to Cam Aery in the sixth.
Colonie’s offense was on fire during the pool play portion of the district tournament. Colonie averaged more than 14 runs per game as it defeated Tri-Village 13-3 June 29, East Greenbush 12-3 June 30, Guilderland 14-2 July 2, Twin Town 17-4 July 6 and Lansingburgh 16-3 July 8.
Waterman and Harris led the way for Colonie in pool play with several home runs. In one game, Waterman belted two balls over the fence and drove in eight runs.
Colonie meets the winner of the District 15/16/17 championship for a best-of-three Sectional series beginning July 19. The winner advances to the state tournament in The Bronx, beginning July 27.
Colonie’s current crop of 11-year-old division all-stars are hoping to qualify for the state tournament being hosted at Cook Park beginning Aug. 1. Colonie entered Monday’s final round of District 13 pool play with a 4-0 record and a near-lock on first place, which would grant it a berth in the champpionship series.
Just like with the 12-year-old all-stars, Colonie’s 11-year-old all-stars have been hitting the ball well in pool play. Colonie defeated Twin Town 11-0 June 27, Cohoes 16-2 July 2, Tri-Village 13-6 July 10 and Hudson Valley 18-0 July 11.
Against Twin Town, Marcus Shelton belted a three-run homer, and Brendan Coyle contributed three hits in support of Joe Flynn’s shutout. Shelton, Chance Herrington and Frank Prevratil each added two hits.
Five players had multi-hit games in Colonie’s 16-2 victory over Cohoes. Coyle tossed a 1-hitter on the pitcher’s mound and helped his own cause with a pair of hits. Prevratil collected three hits, while Shelton, CJ Kuentzel and Evan Gardy each added two hits.
On a rainy Thursday evening on July 9, Colonie jumped out to a 4-0 lead against Tri-Village in the top of the first inning. Tri-Village rallied in the bottom of the second inning before the rain suspended the game. When action resumed on July 10, Sam D’Angelo’s three-run homer helped Colonie pull away for good.
Shelton, Coyle, Colin Allen and Vincent Tirino all had two hits against Tri-Village.
Tirino was Colonie’s star in Saturday’s win against Hudson Valley. Tirino pitched a perfect game over four innings and had two hits, including a two-run homer — his first of the season. Prevratil blasted a three-run homer, and Shelton contributed three hits. Eight of Colonie’s nine players had multi-hit games.
The district championship series begins Wednesday, July 15, with the top two teams from pool play meeting at the home of the first-place team.
Guilderland won the District 13 10-year-old division title by winning two games against Colonie last weekend.
Entering the finals as the No. 2 seed, Guilderland surprised top-seeded Colonie 17-14 in the first game Friday, July 10, at Cook Park.
Guilderland’s offense continued to shine the next day at Keenholts Park, as it defeated Colonie 13-5 for the title Saturday, July 11.
Guilderland meets the winner of the District 15/16/17 title Sunday, July 19, for the first game in the Sectional championship series.
