The Brookline Little League Association made it's best showing so far, sending five teams to the coveted Pittsburgh Citisports Mayor's Cup championship games at PNC Park on Thursday, August 9, and Sunday, August 12, 2018. That is a representative in five games out of a possible seven. Of those five teams, only the 12U Girls and 18U Girls softball teams claimed the title, but all things considered, it was a great weekend for Brookline baseball and softball.

On Thursday, the Pony League and Colt League boys both lost their games to 14th Ward, 11-2 and 12-0 respectively. On Sunday, the Brookline 12U girls rocked Morningside, 12-1, and the 18U girls put the big hurt on Hazelwood, 12-3. The 15U girls came up short in their contest with Hazelwood, 9-2. For the 18U team, this was the third title in a row and, for many of the players, their fourth Mayor's Cup title dating back to 2012 when they were members of the 12U championship team.

  Pony League Boys    Colt League Boys  

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

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* Photos by Clint Burton and a host of others *

Pony League Boys

On Thursday, August 9, the Brookline Colts squared off against 14th Ward in the Citisports Pony League championship game at PNC Park. In a game where the boys from Brookline were the top seed, 14th Ward came with all their guns blaring and walked away with a handy 11-2 victory to claim the Mayor's Cup.

Brookline's powerful bats were no match for 14th Ward's pitcher Liam McCrady, who gave up only six hits, a walk and three hit batsmen, along with eleven strikeouts in a seven-inning command performance. The top hitters for Brookline were Brian Vogel with a long double and a single in three trips; Dimaggio Lonero, who reached base twice on a hit and an error and scored a run in three trips; Liam Gutendorf, who had a single in three trips; Nathan Patsy, who had a long double and was hit by pitch in three trips; and Pacey Daniels who had a single and scored a run in his only plate appearance. Brookline left nine runners stranded.

In an uncharacteristic lack of strike zone awareness, Brookline pitchers issued ten walks and hit three batters while also giving up nine hits. 14th Ward left ten runners on base. In the end, the weight of Brookline's own mistakes was too much to overcome. In the field, Dimaggio Lonero made several fine plays at shortstop and catcher Brian Vogel threw out two runners trying to steal along with one fine putout at home plate.

Members of the Brookline Pony League Mayor's Cup Runner-Up team include: Patrick Hudyma, Peyton Jaras, Griffin Englehardt, Dimaggio Lonero, Brian Vogel, Liam Gutendorf, Nolan Dunn, Kyle Keener, Nathan Patsy, Ryan Czerniejewski, Tony Mino, Johan Kilmer, Kevin Jones, Pacey Daniels and Mac Robertson. The coaches are Brian Vogel, Kurt Englehardt, Kerry Keener and Bill Lonero. The batboy was Kaden Jones.

Colt League Boys

Brookline's Colts came to PNC Park as the #1 seed on Thursday, August 9, to take on 14th Ward. Like their brothers on the Pony level, 14th Ward's team rose to the occasion and handily overcame the Brookline boys with a 12-0 shutout win to claim the Pittsburgh Citisports Mayor's Cup trophy. Once again Brookline could find no rythym from the beginning while 14th Ward relied upon steady pitching and patience at the plate in their lopsided victory.

At the plate, the Brookline bats were effectively silenced by 14th Ward's Joe Olsavsky, who tossed a two-hitter and registered ten strikeouts, while walking only two and hitting one batter in his complete game masterpiece. Brookline stranded seven runners, while Danny Cunningham and Joe Grimm combined to collect the team's only singles.

On the other side, Brookline pitchers suffered the same problem as their Pony brothers and had much difficulty in finding the strike zone. Brookline's first two hurlers combined to walk fourteen batters along with giving up five hits. 14th Ward left ten runners stranded on base. Only Cam Colwell, who entered in relief in the fifth inning was able to effectively throw strikes and calm the storm. In two and one-third innings scoreless innings he retired seven consecutive batters and allowed just two base runners, both of whom reached on errors.

Members of the Brookline Colt League Mayor's Cup Runner-Up team include: Tyler Andrews, Griffin Malloy, Dylan Wertz, Cam Colwell, Nick Roell, Joe Grimm, Danny Cunningham, Zack Wheeler, Justin Hancock, Brandon McGough, Mason Beauregard, Brett Wagner and Thomas Denk. The coaches are Carl Roell, John Wheeler, Hugh McGough and Kevin Colwell. The batboy was Blake Andrews.

12-Under Girls

Brookline's 12-Under girls team came to PNC Park on Sunday, August 12, for their sixth appearance in the Mayor's Cup championship game since 2012. Led by coach Tara Garrubba, the Brookliners pounded Morningside, 12-1, to claim their fifth title in seven years.

The top seeded Brookline girls jumped off to a 5-1 lead in the first inning and coasted from there. Steady pitching from Jayla Carrington and solid fielding effectively silenced the Morningside bats. Carrington yielded only three hits in seven innings, including just one walk to go with three strikeouts. Brookline's fielders recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage in their perfect performance.

At the plate, Brookline batters pounded out fourteen hits, led by Kiara Cerminara 3-3, two doubles, three runs scored; Ireland Kennedy 3-3, double, two runs scored; Danielle Kohr 2-3, two runs scored; Alexa Philistine 1-3, double, base on error, two runs scored; Brianna O'Neil 1-3. run scored; Jayla Carrington 1-3, double, run scored; Chelsea Kohr 1-2, walk; Arianna Jaras 1-2; Delaney DeVault 1-2, run scored.

Members of the Brookline 12U Girls Softball Mayor's Cup Championship team include: Alexa Philistine, Kiara Cerminara, Ireland Kennedy, Danielle Kohr, Brianna O'Neil, Jayla Carrington, Chelsea Kohr, Arianna Jaras, Paris Sibbet, Alexis Stowe, Olivia Dyer, Riley Joyce and Delaney DeVault. The coaches are Tara Garrubba, Ralph Cerminara, Kelly Kennedy, Calvin Kennedy and Julie Joyce. The batgirl is Delaney Baker.

15-Under Girls

Brookline's 15-Under girls met Hazelwood on Sunday, August 12, in the second softball contest of the afternoon at PNC Park. Missing three key players, the top-seeded girls did their best but could not overcome a strong Hazelwood team, losing 9-2 in the title game.

Hazelwood jumped off to an early 3-0 lead. Brookline answered with one run in the third. Hazelwood scored one in the fifth and sixth, then added four more in the top of the seventh to take a commanding lead. Brookline managed one more in the bottom of the seventh, but that was all the girls in blue could muster, and Hazelwood walked away with the Mayor's Cup trophy.

At the plate, Casey Cunningham and Vanessa Hudson led all Brookline batters by both going 2-3 with a double each. Jessica Hancock and Katie McHenry were both 1-3 while Danielle Kohr registered one hit in two appearances. Hudson and Kohr scored Brookline's two runs.

Members of the Brookline 15U Girls Softball Mayor's Cup Runner-Up team include: Ashley Williamson, Casey Cunningham, Jessica Hancock, Vanessa Hudson, Dendall DeMarco, Farrah Love, Katie McHenry, Bella Vargo, Nicole Larnino, Ireland Kennedy, Danielle Kohr. The coaches are Frank DeMarco, Robert "Bibbers" Smith and Dave Hudson. Missing from the game were Cameron Davis, Ashley Elborne and Ayden Dickman.

18-Under Girls

On Sunday, August 12, Brookline's 18-Under girls team made it three in-a-row by crushing Hazelwood, 12-3, in the Pittsburgh Citisports Mayor's Cup title game. For many of our local girls, this was their fourth Mayor's Cup championship, dating back to their time as 12-year olds in 2012.

After the first inning the score was 3-0, Brookline. After the second inning it was 9-0 and the fat lady was already warming up to begin her song and dance. The score was 10-1 after five frames and 12-2 after six. Hazelwood added a final run in the top of the seventh before a ground ball to second and a short toss to first base unleashed the merry melody.

Good pitching and fine fielding held the Hazelwood girls to eight scattered hits, while Brookline pounded away for fifteen dingers, including two long balls. At the plate, the Brookline hitting parade looked like this ...

Natalie Smith 2-3, double, run scored; Kaitlyn Falce 1-1, walk, sacrifice fly, home run, two runs scored; Julia Vrabel 1-3, run scored; Ava Barrett 1-3, home run; Reiley Pastorius 3-3, double; Lindsey Maiorano 0-3, run scored; Kaylee Russman 2-3, run scored; Ashlyn Darden 1-3, run scored; Mikaeyla Vogel, 1-2, run scored; Alex Arnold 1-2, run scored; Joelynn Jones 2-2, two runs scored. Vogel and Tori Hudson also reached base on errors.

Members of the Brookline 18-Under Girls Mayor's Cup Championship team include: Natalie Smith, Kaitlyn Falce, Brooke McQuillan, Julia Vrabel, Tori Hudson, Ave Barrett, Reiley Pastorius, Lindsey Maiorano, Kaylee Russman, Ashlyn Darden, Mikaela Vogel, Alex Arnold and Joelynn Jones. The coaches are Robert "Bibbers" Smith, Mike Falce, Tom Smith, Ian Barrett and Dave Hudson. The batgirl was Dana Jones.

Previous Brookline winners include the 1995 12-Under boys, the 2012 12-Under girls, the 2012 15-Under girls, the 2014 12-Under girls, the 2015 12-Under girls, the 2016 12-Under boys, the 2016 12-Under girls, the 2016 18-Under girls and the 2017 18-Under girls. Others to reach the title game were the 1994 12-Under boys, the 2013 12-Under girls, the 2013 15-Under girls, the 2015 12-Under girls, the 2016 15-Under girls and the 2017 12-Under boys.