Minor Leaguers Win Again

The East Hampton Little League Minors, psyched to win the District 36 Championship trophy last year, weren’t about to give it back so quickly.

The locals took on the North Shore team in Rocky Point on Saturday afternoon with the trophy on the line. East Hampton came out firing on all cylinders, erupting for nine-second inning runs that pretty much took the starch out of the home team. The locals were leading 13-1 when the game was called on the Mercy Rule.

The team, for ages 10 and under, won on Friday, defeating the Nationals, 8-3 in a semifinal encounter to set up Saturday’s finale.

Last week East Hampton defeated Sag Harbor, Southampton, 10-0, and Hampton Bays to advance to the Regionals. Now destiny calls as East Hampton moves into the rarified air of the national tournament. First up is July 10 Section IV tourney, a double-elimination at the Locust Avenue Complex in Oakdale against the District 35 Champion. Win or lose, the team will play again on July 12.

Whichever team emerges moves up to the New York State tournament on July 21 from there its win and in, all the way to Williamsport, PA and the Little League World Series, which runs from August 16 through 26.

rmurphy@indyeastend.com