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Kneeling: Jimmy Wallace, Chris Dulavitch, Jackie Karabinos, Keith Matts,
Steve Loeffert, Chris McClane, Jimmy Trainor, Jimmy
Ratti. Click on image for a larger picture.
Brookline Youth Baseball Team Advances After a successful playoff showing at home, Brookline embarks on the final leg of the Senior Little League state tournament tonight at Emporium, Cameron County. As the District 1 champion, Brookline meets the champion of District 4 (the Philadelphia area) in the state Senior Little League (ages 13-15) semifinals. Win or lose, Brookline plays tomorrow because it is a double-elimination event. Brookline won the district championship by defeating Clarion in the finals, 6-4, Saturday at Danny McGibbeny Field in Brookline Memorial Park. The contest wasn't decided until the ninth inning. Run-scoring hits by left fielder Jack Karabinos and first baseman Eric DelMastro in the top half of the second extra inning (games are seven innings long), clinched the championship. The winning pitcher was Jimmy Wallace, who struck out eight.
Brookline hosted the District 1 tournament, which brought together four section champions from Western Pennsylvania. In the semifinals, Brookline defeated Luzerne Township, 6-4. In order to host the district tournament, Brookline had to win its section championship series from Avonworth. Two of the three games were played at Avonworth, but Brookline prevailed, two games to one, with Wallace pitching during both victories.
Senior Little League is similar to Pony League, but with two big differences. First of all, the age limitation is one year older (15). Secondly, Senior Little League dimensions of the diamond are the same as in the major leagues. The bases are 90 feet apart, and it is 60'6" from the pitching rubber to home plate. In Pony League, the bases are only 75 feet apart and the mound to home plate is only 50 feet. Brookline last won a district championship in 1983. Brookline manager Jim Motznik said he is optimistic about his teams chances of winning the state title. "The fans have been great," said Motznik. "They lined the field at our last game. There were a ton of people there, which helped us a lot. We've got a busload going up (to Emporium). The hotel is booked (to capacity) with Brookline fans." Brookline Youth Baseball Team Falls In State Playoffs Brookline was eliminated from the Senior Little League (ages 13-15) tournament last week during the state semifinals in Emporium. Brookline, District 1 champion, was defeated by District 4 champion Lower Perkiomen, 22-8, and District 2 champion Natrona Heights, 15-3. Lower Perkiomen won the state championship, beating Mifflinburg in the finals of the double elimination event. "The kids were just happy to be there," said Brookline manager Jim Motznik. "The people up there (who were host to the tournament) were great, even the other teams. It taught the kids good sportsmanship." "Naturally they were disappointed in the way they played, but I told them they have a lot to be proud of, being the fourth-best team in the state." One highlight of the trip was Bob Sohngen's homerun against Lower Perkiomen. The state champion moves on to the Senior Little League eastern regional tournament in Berwick, Pa. (near Wilkes-Barre). State champions from Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and New York as well as a champion from the New England states will compete for the eastern title. District 1 Champ The Brookline Senior Little League all-star team made an impressive showing in this year's state tournament by winning the District 1 championship. With the triumph, Brookline advanced to the district playoffs held in Emporium, Pa. The local squad began its journey to the state championship after winning its section against Avonworth, two games to one. Brookline then was awarded the honor of hosting the district tournament. The district championship game went into extra innings and was decided in the second extra inning with Brookline prevailing 6-4. After becoming the District 1 champ, Brookline headed to the state playoffs held in Emporium. Unfortunately Brookline was eliminated after being defeated by District 4 (Philadelphia area) champ, Lower Perkiomen, and the district 2 champ, Natrona Heights, in the double elimination event. Lower Perkiomen won the state title by beating Mifflinburg in the finals. "The kids were just happy to come this far and do so well against the best Senior Little League teams in the state," said Brookline manager Jim Motznik. "We didn't do so bad - after all, we're the fourth best team in Pennsylvania." Motznik said that the trip to Emporium taught his players good sportsmanship since they spent so much of the time with members of the other teams in the tournament. The people in Emporium were great and so was the support that we got from our many fans, here in Brookline and in Emporium," said Motznik. Articles written by David Assad, Post-Gazette staff
writer - July/August 1988. |
