BRISTOL, Conn. – Harlem’s pint-sized All-Stars moved one step closer to the Little League World Series with an easy 5-1 victory over Maryland’s team in their first game of the Mid-Atlantic Division playoffs.
A three-run fifth inning – which included Jorge Lopez’s two-running dinger – put the game out of reach for the Harlem heroes.
Today, Harlem will face an all-star team from Hamilton Square, N.J.
“I knew that if the guys did what they’re capable of doing, we’d wind up on top,” said manager Morris McWilliams.
Harlem got on the board first, when Julian McWilliams’ RBI single scored David Butler, who had come in as a pinch runner and promptly stole two bases. In the top of the fifth, Harlem broke the game wide open, when starting pitcher Alibay Barkley’s doubled, scoring Javier Lopez. Later in the inning, Barkley scored on Jorge Lopez’s homer.
Although the Maryland team – South Caroline – got a run in the bottom of the fifth, Harlem got it right back in the sixth, when Andrew Diaz scored on a fielder’s choice. In all, Barkley struck out eight in five innings.
“I felt a little scared in the beginning, but when I saw that I was just striking them out, I grew confident,” Barkley said. “They weren’t catching up to those fastballs.”
The success of the All-Stars – the first legitimate New York state team to reach the playoffs – has done wonders for the image of New York City Little Leaguers.
It comes one year after the victorious Rolando Paulino All-Stars from The Bronx were stripped of their third-place World Series finish because flame-throwing pitcher Danny Almonte was over the age limit, 12 years.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the world to see something good about kids in Harlem,” said Denise Glaude, who rode with one of the team buses from the city to see last night’s game. “It’s very refreshing.”
Round-robin play in the Mid-Atlantic Division will continue through Friday. After that, the top four teams in each Mid-Atlantic bracket will square off. Eventually, one team will go to Williamsport, Pa., for the Little League World Series.