M’town All-Star team won district championship The Courier, July 10 Posted:07/13/08
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The 8-year-old Middletown Babe Ruth All-Star team won the District 11 Championship. The team went 5-1 in the District Tournament with victories over Matawan (6-5), Manalapan (10-5), Cheesequake (10-6), Matawan (5-3) and Hazlet (9-5) in the final game on June 28.
Middletown was led by the strong pitching of Jake Dillon, Brendan Doherty, Nick Donato, Robbie Higgins and Jason Timmons. Dillon, Higgins and Brian Quinn also led the team in hitting throughout the tournament. Higgins had a clutch 3-run triple in the initial game vs. Matawan and used his bat and legs throughout the tournament to account for several runs. Dillon went 3 for 3 with 6 RBI vs. Manalapan and had a clutch, game-winning double vs. Matawan in the elimination game. Dillon, Quinn, Timmons and Connor Welsh had clutch, run-scoring hits in the final vs. Hazlet.
Dillon (SS/3B), Brendan Doherty (1B), Higgins (SS/3B), Michael Racioppi (2B) and Welsh (C) stood out defensively for the Middletown squad. Other offensive and defensive contributors included Carmine Cardile (2B/CF), Nick Donato (3B/P), Chris Price (C/OF), Ryan Rhatigan (OF/1B) and Brandon Wallrabe (OF).
Each game was a close contest in which the Middletown squad displayed excellent teamwork and resiliency. Middletown fell behind 2-0 and 5-1 in the championship game versus a tough Hazlet team, who previously defeated Middletown in the Pool Play portion of the tournament, but staged an exciting comeback win with timely hitting, good defense and excellent relief pitching by Dillon and Higgins.
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