Diamondbacks win Union City title

0
207

The Union City Little League Diamondbacks won the major boys division. Pictured, back row coaches Mark Vincent and Dave Pires, Ryan Shemanski, Ross Via, Jonathan Vincent, Elliott Via, Nick Tarmey, Brian Andrade, coaches Gordy Levesque and Matt Galvin. Front row, Fin Galvin, Cody Tribble, Charley Marenghi, Justin Papp, Nick Perugini and Jay Mezzo. –CONTRIBUTED
The Union City Little League Diamondbacks won the major boys division. Pictured, back row coaches Mark Vincent and Dave Pires, Ryan Shemanski, Ross Via, Jonathan Vincent, Elliott Via, Nick Tarmey, Brian Andrade, coaches Gordy Levesque and Matt Galvin. Front row, Fin Galvin, Cody Tribble, Charley Marenghi, Justin Papp, Nick Perugini and Jay Mezzo. –CONTRIBUTED

NAUGATUCK — The Diamondbacks captured the 2013 Union City Little League major boys division championship last week.

A combination of good pitching, stellar defense and timely hitting throughout the season carried over to the league’s postseason. The Diamondbacks’ success started before the postseason, double-elimination tournament.

At the end of the regular year, the Diamondbacks were tied with the Pirates in the standings and forced a one-game playoff. In that game, Brian Andrade shutdown the Pirates with a four-hit, six-strikeout performance and the Diamondbacks won 9-2.

Jay Mezzo, Elliott Via, Jonathan Vincent, Nick Perugini, Ryan Shemanski, Cody Tribble, Charley Marenghi and Nick Tarmey all had hits for the Diamondbacks.

In the postseason tournament, the Diamondbacks won a wild game, 11-10, with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Cardinals. Fin Galvin and Ross Via had two hits apiece for the Diamondbacks, while Justin Papp made two nice catches in center field. Ryan McCarthy pitched well and Jordan Anderson hit the ball hard for the Cardinals.

The Diamondbacks faced the Pirates in game two. Pitching dominated that contest.

Nate Shulick struck out eight Diamondbacks and limited them to six hits. But it was Andrade for the Diamondbacks who was at his best. Andrade held the Pirates to one hit, a two-out first-inning double by Matt Pimpanelli, in a 3-0 victory.

The Pirates defeated and eliminated the Marlins to set up a rematch with the Diamondbacks in the championship game of the tournament. The Diamondbacks started strong with five runs in the first inning on hits by Mezzo, Elliott and Ross Via, and Tribble and a walk to Perugini.

The big hit was by Andrade, a bases-clearing triple. That was all Elliott Via needed as he pitched into the sixth inning, allowing only two hits. Galvin came in to wrap up a 5-1 Diamondbacks victory.

Union City, Prospect All-Stars set: The Union City All-Stars will begin tournament play Saturday afternoon at home against Peter J. Foley. The winner will take on either Derby or Shelton National on July 3, and the loser will remain alive in the double-elimination bracket.

The Prospect All-Stars, meanwhile, will also see their first action Saturday in Seymour against either Beacon Falls’ Robert A. Cole All-Stars or Seymour. Prospect’s second game will be July 3.