On Wednesday, July 24, 2013, the Brookline Little League Association and many of it's dedicated fans descended upon PNC Park for the annual Pittsburgh Citiparks B.I.G. League finals. The Brookline 12-Under and 15-Under Girls Slo-Pitch Softball teams, both defending Mayor's Cup champions, were returning to defend their respective titles.

Despite high hopes of a double-repeat, both teams lost close one-run games that went right down to the wire. The 12-Under team, coached by Tom Smith, lost 6-5 to Swissvale, and the 15-Under team, coached by Robert Smith, lost 5-4 to Brighton Heights.

    12-Under Game         15-Under Game    

    12-Under Championship Game Highlights    

In the first game of the day, the 12-Under girls jumped off to a 2-0 advantage in the first inning, and by the fourth frame, the score was 3-1. Swissvale scored three in the top of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. Brookline answered with two in the bottom half to go ahead 5-4. The fifth and sixth innings were scoreless.

Then, in the top of the seventh, a two-run homer with one out gave the Swissvale a 6-5 edge. In the bottom of the seventh, Brookline mounted one last challenge, stranding the tying run on second base. In the closely-fought contest, Swissvale banged out eleven hits to Brookline's ten.

Photos from the 12-Under Mayor's Cup Championship Game

Click on images for larger pictures.

The members of the 2013 Brookline 12-Under Mayor's Cup team are: Natalie Smith (#9), Mikaela Vogel (#22), Destiny Stella (#13), Julia Vrabel (#21), Mia Ely (#99), Kaylee Russman (#8), Ava Barrett (#31), Deja Weaver (#23), Breanna Stocke (#18), Joelynn Jones (#1), Alliyah Naylor (#3), Cheyenne Pierce (#24) and Hailey Clouse (#4). The coaches are Tom Smith, Dave Ely, Jill Vogel, Tara Garrubba and Jim Pierce.

    15-Under Championship Game Highlights    

In the day's second contest, Brookline's 15-Under girls staked themselves to a quick 1-0 advantage in the first inning and added another run in the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Brighton Heights brought three runners home to take a 3-2 lead. Each team added a run in the fifth. Brookline tied the game in the top half of the sixth, 4-4, on a home run by Marrissa McAllister.

Brighton Heights answered in the bottom of the sixth with a tape-measure homer that landed somewhere near the Pirate's pitching mound, far beyond the right field fence. The Ruthian shot gave Brighton Heights a 5-4 lead going into the seventh. Brookline's championship hopes faded as their bats fell silent in the final frame. For the game, Brighton Heights banged out fifteen hits and Brookline registered eleven.

Photos from the 15-Under Mayor's Cup Championship Game

Click on images for larger pictures.

The members of the 2013 Brookline 15-Under Mayor's Cup team are: Alex Kirsch (#18), Kelsey Garrubba (#8), Marrissa McAllister (#33), Caitlyn Cejrowski (#14), Victoria Williams (#17), Alexa Perrotti (#15), Victoria McCrea (#5), Hailey Kottler (#7), Taylor Kottler (#22), Hayli Davis (#11), Victoria Hudson (#3), Kaitlyn Falce (#6), Lindsey Maiorano (#4), Melina Bushmen (#9), Summer Algas (#68) and Katie Smith (#13). The coaches are Robert "Bibbers" Smith, Bobby Sohngen, Kevin Kottler and Steve Perrotti.

* Photos provided by Clint Burton *

Despite losing two close games, it was still a thrill to get to play in the Mayor's Cup championship at PNC Park.
Most kids never get a chance like this. Many of Brookline's girls have now done it twice!