Scarborough got a big first inning – and needed it – to advance past Cape Elizabeth in the District 6 Little League baseball 12-year-old all-star tournament.
A two-run double by Johnny Passarelli highlighted Scarborough’s six-run first inning, as they held on for a 9-6 victory Saturday at Deering.
Scarborough coach Jim Cronin said the big first inning helped take pressure of hard-throwing pitcher Mike Brown, who was making his first all-star start. Brown had pitched in previous games but only in relief.
Joe Lavalle belted the first of his two solo home runs in the bottom of the first inning – a line drive over the left-field fence – to get one run back for Cape.
However, Scarborough added three more runs in the fourth. Conor McCann singled, followed by Brown and Teddy Quinn walking to load the bases.
John Gonzalez then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in McCann and Andrew Jones singled to drive in Brown. Finally, J.D. Hermann, who was pinch running for Quinn, stole home to put Scarborough up, 9-1.
Cape then began their comeback bid, getting one run back in the fourth when Donald Clark bunted to drive in Jack Barber. The inning could have been worse.
Following Clark’s bunt, Brown hit Connor Riddle and walked Nick Breed on four pitches to load the bases. But Brown regained his control, getting a strikeout to end the inning, with Lavalle – already with one homer – standing on deck.
It proved to be a big strikeout because Lavalle led off the bottom of the fifth with another home run – a carbon copy of his first-inning shot. He finished the tournament with three round-trippers.
Cape Elizabeth continued to rally in the fifth, with Pat Tyler and Breed with hitting RBI doubles to help make the score 9-6.
“We could have rolled over and died when the score was 9-1,” Cape Elizabeth coach Ken Pierce said. “I was proud we didn’t.”
Brown pitched five innings for the win, allowing five runs while striking out seven and walking three. McCann and Joe Cronin, who got the save, pitched in relief.
The loss eliminated Cape Elizabeth from the tournament, as they lost previously to Falmouth, 10-0. Scarborough went on to beat Deering the following day and will face Falmouth Friday at 5:30.
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