CR Newtown 9-11s Capture State Championship In Dramatic Late-Game Rally

SELINSGROVE, PA — Down six runs in the deciding game of the Pennsylvania State Championship tournament played on a North Central Pennsylvania ball field, the Council Rock Newtown 9-to-11-year-old Little League team refused to let their summer end.

In a performance defined by grit and determination, Newtown mounted a dramatic late-game rally against West Point, storming back in the final innings to secure a thrilling 10-9 victory in extra innings. The win crowns Council Rock Newtown as the Pennsylvania 9-11 State Champions and officially punches their ticket to the Eastern Regional Tournament in Massachusetts.

The Road to Selinsgrove

Newtown’s championship run was far from easy. Their journey began in District 30, where the squad faced adversity early.

After suffering a 5-1 setback against Northampton in the semifinals — their only loss of the tournament — Newtown was forced into a grueling elimination-bracket gauntlet. Facing elimination five straight times, the team ran the table, securing the District 30 crown with back-to-back victories over Morrisville to finish 10-1.

Carrying that momentum into the Section 8 tournament, Newtown put on a dominant display. They swept through the bracket with a perfect 3-0 record, defeating Upper Providence and beating Media twice to earn their spot in the state tournament in Selinsgrove.

A Rollercoaster State Tournament

Newtown opened state tournament play in red-hot fashion, rolling past Dubois in a commanding 12-0 victory. They followed up with back-to-back nail-biters, edging Hollidaysburg 5-4 before securing a dramatic 5-4 walk-off win against West Point.

However, West Point fought back in the double-elimination tournament, handing Newtown a tight 3-2 defeat in the first championship game to force a winner-take-all Game Two.

In the final showdown, Newtown quickly found themselves backed into a corner, trailing by as many as six runs. But with their season on the line, the team showcased the same resilience that carried them through the district losers' bracket.

Over the fifth and sixth innings, Newtown chipped away at the deficit, leveling the score at 8-8 to send the title game into extra innings.

In the top of the seventh, Newtown struck for two crucial runs to take a 10-8 lead. West Point pushed hard in the bottom half, crossing the plate once to cut the deficit to one, but Newtown held their ground to secure the final out and lock up the state title.

With the state banner in hand, Council Rock Newtown now turns its attention to Massachusetts, where they will represent Pennsylvania on the Eastern Regional stage.

Championship Roster & Coaching Staff

Players

Crew Torok

Beckett Piccarreta

James Alexander

Owen Rottkamp

Ethan Hodgson

Teagan D’Andrea

Wade Bailey

Sullivan Herrity

Patrick Burger

Will Egan

Beau Guise

Jakob Störmer

Manager: Eric Guise

Coaches: Brett D’Andrea, Mark Alexander