Middletown Little League All-Stars Explode Late to Beat Tiverton

Yogi Berra was right – it ain’t over until it’s over.

Three runs down with three outs left and one run behind with one out to go, the Middletown Little League’s Major Division All-Stars (11- and 12-year-old players) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat Thursday night, rallying to shock the host Tiverton Little League All-Stars, 13-6, in nine innings in a first-round game of the Rhode Island District 2 Tournament at Town Farm.

Middletown dramatically scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to forge a 5-5 deadlock through regulation time, withstood a major Tiverton threat in the bottom of the eighth frame, then erupted for eight runs in the top of the ninth stanza to advance in the winners’ bracket of the district tournament. Middletown will host the winner of Thursday’s game between Bristol and Warren next Wednesday (July 6) in a second-round battle.

Tiverton, meanwhile, drops into the losers’ bracket of the double-elimination tourney and will entertain the loser of the Bristol-Warren clash, also next Wednesday.

Ben Alofson and Matt Hook both slammed long home runs in the top of the ninth chapter and burly Colin Ford came out of the bullpen to check Tiverton on just one run during the final 5.2 innings as Middletown overcame the host's five-run burst in the fourth frame – capped by Zach Greene’s grand slam home run – to notch a critical first-round triumph.

Middletown trailed by a 5-2 margin entering the sixth inning when Mac Caron drew a lead-off walk, forcing the exit of Tiverton starter Justin Dore (who had reached the maximum pitch allowance according to the rules of Little League Baseball). Reliever Cam Soares issued a free pass to Zach Chamberlin, a run-scoring single to Eric Durudogin, a run-producing fielder’s choice to Aidan Asher and Hook’s line single with two outs which plated the tying tally.

Tiverton placed two runners on base in its portion of the same chapter before Ford induced Leo Feliciano to ground out ending the inning. After Tiverton right fielder Jack Cavanaugh tracked down Noah Rochefort’s liner heading into a gap with a runner in scoring position to close the top of the eighth, the hosts loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the same stanza until Greene forced Brett Silvia at the plate and Stephen Gacioch was thrown out at the plate on an attempted steal to kill that opportunity.

Middletown finally capitalized on its multiple breaks to blow the game wide open in the ninth inning. After JoJo Olaynack was hit by a pitch, Alofson blasted a two-run homer to left-center field and Soares exited after hitting Caron and passing Chamberlin in favor of Silvia. Asher sliced a run-scoring double to left to open an 8-5 gap and Hook followed with a three-run homer to produce an 11-5 margin.

Silvia gave way to Evan Monast, who later yielded a run-scoring single to Olaynack, who scored Middletown’s final run on an error.

Tiverton got one run back in its half of the final inning as Feliciano doubled and came across on Dylan Furtado’s fielder’s choice before Ford finally retired the side.

Alofson, Durudogin, Asher and Hook all finished with two hits for the winners, while Ford gave up just four hits and fanned five batters in his stint. Tiverton’s Greene topped all batters with three hits and Dore added two safeties, but the hosts sabotaged themselves by stranding 13 baserunners.

Middletown had jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Dore in the second inning when Chamberlin walked, moved to second on a passed ball, and sped home on Durudogin’s double. Durudogin later crossed the plate following successive infield outs.

Middletown starter Alofson wiggled out of trouble in the first three chapters, stranding seven runners, but failed to survive the fourth frame. Singles by Francesco Piscani and Cavanaugh along with a walk to Silvia loaded the bases for Dore, who delivered a sharp single to center field plating Piscani. Greene followed with a deep blast clearing the center field fence and giving Tiverton a 5-2 cushion.

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