Health & Fitness
Berkeley Little League Seniors Win D18 Championship!
Game recap of Little League D18 Championship game
The Berkeley Little League Senior League All Stars captured the District 18 Championship with a come from behind 11-3 win over Manchester Little League last night at Lacey Little League’s Cune Park.
Berkeley had defeated Manchester in the very first game of the double elimination tournament with walk off win scoring 4 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Manchester fought back through the losers bracket and forced the deciding IF game with a 6-0 shutout on Sunday.
The rubber match for the championship was a very close game. Manchester jumped out to quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, with Berkeley coming right back and scoring 2 in the bottom of the first.
Find out what's happening in Berkeleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In the top of the fifth, Manchester got a mini rally going on against Berkeley’s starting pitcher Rich Galati. After having first and second with no outs, Galati and reliever John Dula minimized the damage when Manchester could only squeeze in the tying run. After Berkeley failed to answer in the bottom of the inning, Manchester scored the lead run after an error in the top of the sixth.
With Manchester clinging to a 3-2 lead, Berkeley came alive in the decisive bottom of the sixth. After a Jake Paton ground out for the first out, John Dula worked a walk. After battling for several pitches, and with Dula running on the pitch, Pat Tuzzo lifted what looked like a possible double play ball to right field.
Find out what's happening in Berkeleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
However, the Manchester fielder misplayed it to give Berkeley the break it needed. Nine hole batter Casey Raso then ripped a game-tying double to left field as the crowded Berkeley sideline erupted with excitement. With Tuzzo on third, Rich Galati worked a walk to load the bases. Eddie Corrigan then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to give Berkeley a 4-3 lead.
Then a 2 out rally materialized, icing the game for Berkeley. Tom Clark hit an RBI single for a 5-3 lead. Christian Bearden then broke open the game with long double off the fence in left center field. RBI hits by Ernie Ropas, Jake Paton, John Dula, a walk to Tuzzo and another double from Raso pushed the lead to 11-3.
Berkeley now advances to the section 3 playoffs next Friday hosted by Old Bridge Little League.
