The 11- and 12-year-old M.O.T. Red American Pat Knight Tournament baseball team advanced to the District I title game with three wins. M.O.T. will play for the title on Thursday night at 7 in Harrington.
M.O.T. RED 12, FELTON 3: In the opening game, pitcher Denny Berger threw three shutout innings for the win. Matt Andrus struck out the side in one inning of relief, and Zach Malcom pitched a scoreless sixth inning to secure the win.
Offensively, Chandler Fitzgerald went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run. Other leaders were Damion Malone (2-for-2, two runs), Ed Pavina (2-for-2, double, two runs), Denny Berger (single, three RBIs, two runs), Daniel Taylor (single, two runs), Matt Andrus (double), Dallas Winkleman (double) and Tyler Gaul (single, run).
M.O.T. RED 6, C-WYOMING BLUE 2: Matt Moran pitched a complete game for the win. He struck out five and received great infield support from infielders Kyle Sidwell, Berger and Shane Horn.
Austin Walls went 2 for 2 with a triple and two RBIs. Pavina Berger, Horn, Andrus and Moran all had singles.
M.O.T. RED 9, DOVER 6: In the third round, Winkleman and Berger each hit grand slams. Winkleman and Walls were each 2-for-2. Walls had a solo blast. Moran went 1-for-1 with a single and walk. Malone walked twice and scored twice.
Horn pitched four solid innings as a starter, and Malcom earned the win in relief by retiring all six batters. He struck out two.
Tyler Gaul had a strong defensive game at second base highlighted by a double play and bare handed grab on a ball that was deflected off the first baseman.
Dover led 2-0 after the first inning and 3-1 after the second. Walls led off the top of the second with a solo home run. Malcom followed with a single, but was left stranded.
Gaul led off the third with a single, and Moran walked. Dover retired the next batter and ended the threat with a double play.
Dover went up 4-1 in the bottom of the third, but Gaul limited the damage by turning a double play with the bases loaded after snaring a line drive and firing to third for the final out.
Malone led off the fourth with a walk and Pavina then reached with a beautiful bunt single. Denny Berger reached on a fielder's choice when Dover attempted to get the lead runner. Malone beat the throw to load the bases. Winkleman then hit his grand slam for a 5-4 M.O.T. lead. Dover changed pitchers and retired the next three batters.
Dover rallied with two runs in the bottom of the fourth for a 6-5 advantage.
Andrus walked with two outs in the fifth, but the threat fizzled.
In the bottom of the fifth, Malcom replaced starting pitcher Horn and retired three straight batters.
Moran led off the top of the sixth with a single and Fitzgerald reached on a fielder's choice when lead runner Moran was retired at second. Taylor and Malone followed with walks to load the bases with one out. Dover fought back and struck out the next hitter for the second out and was one out away from winning when Denny Berger hit a grand slam to put M.O.T. Red up 9-6.
Malcom again set down the side in order in the bottom of the sixth to seal the win.
Middletown, Del. —
