On Saturday, July 28, 2016, the Community of Brookline descended upon PNC Park for the fifth year in a row, this time bringing four teams to the prestigious City of Pittsburgh Mayor's Cup Championship games. Brookline's girls softball league was well represented, with the 18-Under, 15-Under and 12-Under teams reaching the finals. To top that off, the boys 12-Under Little League team was also competing in the title game for the first time since 1995.

It was a gala day-long event, with a Brookline team competing in each of the four games. When the contests finally came to an end, the Brookline Little League Association had walked away with three championships and one runner-up. Not bad for a Day At The Ballpark.

Young Max Naret looks primed and ready to cheer on his big brother Jack Naret.

    12-Under Boys    

    12-Under Girls         15-Under Girls         18-Under Girls    

Click on images for larger pictures.

12-Under Boys Little League

The big day at PNC Park began with the Boys Little League championship game, with Brookline squaring off against Squirrel Hill. In the first inning, Squirrel Hill scored two runs off starter Kevin Jones. Brookline answered in the lower half when Jack Naret, barely ten-years old and the youngest member of the team, smashed a 250-foot homer to make the score 2-1.

Kyle Keener took the mound for Brookline in the second inning. In the third, Squirrel Hill threatened with runners on first and third, and only one out. They tried a double steal.

Brookline catcher Brian Vogel threw to shortstop Ty Lagoni to get the runner at second. Lagoni then threw back to Vogel to nail the runner coming home for a picture perfect 2-6-2 double play. The hometown crowd erupted with joy at the outstanding effort.

  
Brookline's Jack Naret lunges to grab a fly ball for an out in right field (left) and Brian Vogel celebrates
a three-run homer in the third inning with his third base coach. (Post-Gazette photos).

Riding the momentum of their textbook defensive play, Brookline came to bat in the bottom of the third. With two runners on base, Naret made his second plate appearance and singled one home to tie the game at two-apiece. The Brookline fans roared with excitement.

Then slugger Brian Vogel came to the plate and proceeded to crush a three-run homer to left center for a 5-2 Brookline lead. The four-bagger took the wind right out of the Squirrel Hill sails and sent the Brookline faithful into a frenzy.

Vogel's round-trip blast was his 64th homerun of the season, breaking his own BLLA Little League record of fifty-six set the previous season. Keener tossed his third scoreless inning in the fourth, then yielded the mound to Vogel, who finished out the final two frames.

Squirrel Hill brought home one more run in the fifth to finish off the scoring. Vogel shut them down in the sixth to claim the title for Brookline, whose team was sponsored by Michael Poremski Plumbing. It was Brookline's second boys Little League Mayor's Cup championship, and first since 1995.

The Mayor's Cup win was bittersweet for one Brookline player. DiMaggio Lonero, the regular shortstop who had gone 3-3 with three extra base hits in the semi-final tournament game against Carrick, was sidelined after undergoing an urgent surgical procedure. DiMaggio suited up for the game but missed out on his opportunity to play on the PNC Park turf.

Members of the Brookline Little League 12-Under Boys Mayor's Cup Championship team include: Jake Grosse, Idris Wilson, Chris Grosse, Brian Vogel, Kevin Jones, Ari Xenakis, Nolan Dunn, DiMaggio Lonero, Kyle Keener, Griffin Englehardt, Jack Naret, Ty Lagoni and Mike Falce. The coaches were Brian Vogel, Bill Lonero, Kurt Engelhardt and Kerry Keener.

12-Under Girls Little League

Brookline's 12-Under Little League girls softball team made it's fifth consecutive appearance in the Mayor's Cup title game. The girls made it four wins out of five attempts with their third championship victory in a row.

Riding the wave of enthusiasm from the previous boys title game, the Brookline girls jumped off to a 6-3 lead over Morningside in the first inning. They surrendered the edge after allowing four runs in the fourth inning. Two Brookline runs in the fifth frame restored a one-run advantage that held through the final frame for an 8-7 victory.

15-Under Girls

Brookline's 15-Under girls softball team made it's third appearance in the Mayor's Cup title game. This time the girls finished runnerup in a heart-breaking loss to Swissvale.

18-Under Girls

Brookline's 18-Under team made it's first-ever appearance in the Pittsburgh Mayor's Cup title game, and what a memorable first appearance it was. Many of the girls were veterans of previous PNC Park title games, having competed in other age groups, but nothing could prepare them for the thrills, chills and excitement of this game.

Squaring off against long-time rivals Elliott, Brookline jumped off to an early 2-0 lead and held their opponent scoreless through the first four innings. Elliott scored two in the fifth to tie the game. Entering the seventh and final frame, what had evolved into a tight defensive struggle soon erupted into an offensive showdown.

Brookline scored five runs in the seventh to take a commanding lead going into the bottom half. Undetered, Elliott answered with five runs of their own to tie the game and send the contest into extra innings.

In the eighth, Brookline piled on another three runs, only to be matched by Elliott. The ninth inning was scoreless, leading to the decisive tenth inning. As darkness fell over the City of Pittsburgh, under the bright PNC Park lights Brookline scored three more in the top of the tenth, then held Elliott scoreless in the bottom half to claim the title with a 13-10 victory.

Nervous apprehension turned to sheer delight as Brookline's faithful fans once again watched their girls hoist the coveted Mayor's Cup championship trophy.

Members of the Brookline 18-Under Girls Mayor's Cup Championship team include: Katie Smith, Kaitlyn Falce, Lindsey Maiorano, Hayli Davis, Kelsey Garrubba, Kiersten Swanson, Tori Williams, Tori Hudson, Tori McCrea, Jamie Farerri, Melina Bushman, Maddie Jagielski, Olivia Tiani and Kyra Fitzwilliam. The coaches were Robert "Bibbers" Smith, Mike Falce, Steve Maiorano and Tara Garrubba.

Mayor's Cup Champions and Runners-Up

Previous Brookline winners include the 1995 12-Under boys, the 2012 12-Under girls, the 2012 15-Under girls, the 2014 12-Under girls and the 2015 12-Under girls. Others to reach the title game were the 1994 12-Under boys, the 2013 12-Under girls, the 2013 15-Under girls and the 2015 12-Under girls.

Brookline Invited To City Council For Mayor's Cup Proclamation

The three Brookline winning teams were invited to City Council Chambers in August for a special day honoring the Pittsburgh Mayor Cup Championship clubs. A City Council Proclamation was read honoring those present and afterwards a photo was taken with District#4 Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak and Big League Directors Joe Defeo and Michelle Aul.

Photos provided by Brian Vogel, Tara Garrubba, Andria DeBold, Mike Falce,
Leslie Maiorano, Stacie Swanson, Rob Jaras and James Naret.