Rhode Island’s Coventry Little League defeated Pittsfield (Mass.) American Little League, 3-2, Sunday morning, securing the New England Region crown and a trip to Williamsport, Pa., for the 2018 Little League Baseball® World Series.
The region championship game was delayed by one day due Saturday’s rain at the East Region’s A. Bartlett Giamatti Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Conn.
New England Regional Tournament Results
The winning pitcher was right-hander Logan Lama, who pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and recording six strikeouts. Jake Mather hit the go-ahead home run off the right field light pole in the top of the fifth inning, who finished the day 3-for-3.
“I’m very proud of the boys,” said Coventry Manager Lou Simon. “They played their hearts out to the very last out.”
Pittsfield American starter Evan Blake also pitched five innings, giving up three runs and striking out eight.
Coventry was the first to score in the top of the third, in a three-hit inning where runs scored on an RBI single and a wild pitch.
Pittsfield tied the game in the bottom of the third inning, as Lama walked in two runs after giving up a single to the lead-off hitter. It could have been a lot worse for Coventry, as Lama stuck out two consecutive batters to escape a one-out, bases loaded jam in the inning.
“I wasn’t really that nervous,” said Lama when recalling that third inning, “I knew that if I came out and threw strikes, I’d be able to do my job.”
Coventry Little League closer Anthony Colucci recorded the last five outs, including a pop up to first base that ended the game. It was an eventful bottom of the sixth inning for both sides, as two replay calls both resulted in outs for Pittsfield.
“I’m not sure if we can say mission accomplished,” said Coach Simon, “with these boys there’s no mission accomplished.”
Coventry Little League’s first Little League Baseball World Series game is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 16th, when it takes on Southwest Regional Champion Post Oak Little League from Houston.
