Bridgeport and Clarksburg Central each won their games Sunday to advance to the final round in the 11-12-year-old state Little League Tournament. Bridgeport knocked off Clarksburg Nationals 17-5, while Central defeated Shinnston 5-1.
Bridgeport used solid hitting, good pitching and a defense that didn't commit a single error to pick up its win. The Bridgeport All-Stars pounded out 15 hits, including five home runs. Chris Enourato was the focal point of Bridgeport's offense, going 4-for-4 with a single and three home runs.
Bridgeport jumped out to a quick start, notching three runs in the first inning and would never look back.
The Bridgeport bats continued to roar, by the end of the third inning it had built a 10-3 lead.
The final offensive blow came in the top of the sixth. Enourato capped off an already impressive three-hit game with a grand slam, running his RBI total to nine on the evening.
Justin Trippett picked up the win.
Adam Klenik helped pace Bridgeport with three hits. Greg Groves and Justin McGee each homered in the win.
Jimmy Robinson led the Clarksburg Nationals with two hits, including a double.
Clarksburg Central broke open a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third inning. Drew Jones singled, then advanced twice on passed balls, moving himself to third base. Micheal Squires laid down a beautiful bunt single to drive in Jones.
Mark Frum boosted Central to a 3-1 lead after escaping a botched run-down attempt.
"We got off to a slow start, but as the game progressed so did we," Central coach Bob Stalder said.
Central's two-run cushion at the end of three innings would be all the run support Justin Pettry would need.
Perry tossed a complete game, scattering five hits and striking out nine Shinnston All-Stars.
"Once (Justin) started to settle down, he began to throw like he has all year," Stalder said.
Derick Patsy gave Central another morale boost and an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth, leading off with a home run over the left-field fence, making it 4-1.
"We made some mental errors that beat us tonight," Shinnston coach Dave Harbert said. "We need to come out in high spirits and ready to play for our next game."
Frum later scored the game's final run on an error.
"We need to continue to hit and play good defense," Stalder said.
"We have battled with (Bridgeport) in the past, and I think these kids know what they want. There ready to play."
In Shinnston, Taylor County defeated Belington 10-0. Andy Leach got the win and hit a home run for Taylor County.
In the second game, Justin Berkhammer pitched a no-hitter as Lewis County downed Upshur County 1-0. Berkhammer struck out 12 and walked one.
