Massachusetts avenges 2017 title loss, eliminates Mid-County in semifinal

Published 9:35 pm Thursday, August 8, 2019

Mid-County didn’t win one game in the Babe Ruth 16- to 18-year-old World Series without having to come from behind, but against the club it defeated to win the 2017 world championship, the Texans would have to dig a little deeper.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Team Cape Cod posted a 6-spot in the second inning, and it proved a little too difficult for Mid-County to overcome Thursday as the Massachusetts team won 6-3 Thursday in the semifinal round of the single-elimination tournament.

Mid-County finished its stay in Mobile, Alabama, 3-2 in the tournament with a National Division title and 12-2 overall.

Peyton Miller suffered through the tough second inning and allowed all six runs (five earned) on two hits in 1 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out one.

Despite the loss, Mid-County collected eight hits and finished the tournament with 43. But each team committed three errors, with Mid-County’s mistakes all coming in the costly second inning.

Mid-County started quickly in the first with singles by Landon Hiltz and Adam Roccaforte. Hiltz stole third base and scratched a run on an error by the catcher. The Neerland-based club loaded the bases with a Justin Smith walk and Omar Mascorro single, but an Austin Schaper flyout ended the threat.

Team Cape Cod started its big inning with a walk and double before a single sent home the tying run. Errors by the pitcher and catcher allowed two runs, and another batter was hit by a pitch to finally chase Miller.

Grant Rogers gave up a two-run single, and the last run crossed the plate via error at second base.

Mid-County cut into the 6-1 deficit with two runs in the fourth. Kamden Grant hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Smith, who led off the inning with a double. A miscue at right field allowed Mascorro to score with two outs.

Roccaforte and Smith each had two hits. Rogers also had a hit and worked 4 2/3 innings on the mound, striking out three. Cade Holyfield came on for the seventh inning and struck out two.

Nick Carr drove in two runs for Team Cape Cod, which totaled three hits. Wyatt Scotti scattered two earned runs and eight hits over six innings, and Chris Beach threw a 10-pitch seventh for the close.

Team Cape Cod surged into the semifinal with a come-from-behind 5-4 win over Onondaga, New York, earlier Thursday. Cape Cod trailed 4-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Now, the Massachusetts boys will take on the defending champion Alabama Rawdogs, who beat MLB China 11-0 in the earlier semifinal. MLB China outlasted Bakersfield, California, 14-10, in extra innings.

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

email author More by I.C.