Muse, Butler with tremendous pitching efforts
Published in the July 6, 2018 edition
MELROSE — The Major League White Sox capped off a tremendous season by winning the Melrose Little League Majors Playoff Championship with a sweep over the young, talented Tigers in the Finals.
On Saturday, the White Sox got a tremendous pitching effort from All Star Tyler Muse who pitched 5 and 1/3 innings of two-hit, nine strike-out baseball allowing just one earned run.
The offense was paced by Roddy McGillicuddy who reached base on all three plate appearances and scored twice. Atticus Beasley, Brendan Morris, Jake Skane, Tommy Butler, and Sasha Sevestyanov all collected hits and scored runs for the White Sox. The Sox won on Saturday 7-2.
On Sunday, the White Sox got another brilliant pitching performance from All Star Tommy Butler. He pitched a complete game (6 innings) of 6-hit, 7-strike-out baseball allowing just 2 earned runs. The offense was paced by Tyler Muse who hit a towering home run over everything in left field and also had a double and 2 runs scored.
Other strong offensive performances came from Beasley (triple, run scored), Morris (2 hits, 2 runs scored), Skane (3 hits, 3 runs scored), Butler (2 hits, 2 runs scored) and Ryan Connarton (3 hits, 1 run scored).
The White Sox won the Championship Game 13 – 2.
THE WHITE SOX pose with their new Melrose Little League Majors championship trophy. Pictured in the front row from left to right is Reid Heidebrecht, Atticus Beasley, Dylan Harrington, Roddy McGillicuddy and Noah Fay. Standing from left is Danny Muse (Manager), Bill Butler (Coach), Sasha Sevetyanov, Jake Skane, Tyler Muse, Ryan Connarton, Brendan Morris, Kevin Waden (Coach), Tommy Butler and Tommy Waden. (Courtesy Photo)
Tommy Waden, Noah Fay, Dylan Harrington, and Reid Heidebrecht all played tremendous defense and all had hits over the weekend.
The young Tigers are going to be a force to be reckoned with next year as they are returning virtually their whole team. The Tigers had a tremendous playoff run and deserve plenty of credit making it to the Finals with such a young team. The only graduating Little League players are All-Stars Connor Brophy, Emma Desmond, and Erik Hall. Returning next year for the Tigers will be Matty Palmer, Dylan Harrington, Adam Saragosa, Timmy Rosell, Quinn Mathews, Quinn Fogarty, Tyler Garipay, Charlie Keefe, and Cavan O’Leary.
White Sox beat Nationals in semifinals
The White Sox earned their 3rd straight playoff win to advance the Championship Game. There was a capacity crowd on hand to watch a great Little League game between two very talented teams with deep pitching staffs.
The White Sox jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first when lead off hitter Tyler Muse led off with a walk. He stole second and the throw ended up in centerfield. He scored on a close play at the plate. Nationals starter Brendan Doyle struck out the next three White Sox batters to get out of the inning.
The Nationals evened the score in the bottom half of the first inning when Johnny Recinito reached on a base hit. He advanced to second on a fielder’s choice and scored on a base hit from Colin Walsh. Doyle and White Sox starter Tommy Butler settled in, there was no more scoring until the top of the fourth.
Butler battled for a two out walk. Ryan Connarton hit a clutch triple to score Butler and Connarton scored on a passed ball to give the White Sox a 3-1 lead.
The White Sox stretched the lead to 5-1 in the top of the 6th. Brendan Morris led off with a walk. Butler reached on a base hit to make it 1st and 3rd with one out. Butler stole second. Nationals catcher Quinn Hardisty made a tremendous play on an apparent past ball and Morris broke for home. There was a five throw pickle which ended up with an errant throw to third and Morris and Butler were able to score.
The resilient Nationals did not go down quietly in the bottom of the 6th. White Sox star reliever Jake Skane was virtually untouchable as he entered the game in the bottom of the third inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Mikey Thomas led off with a solid base hit. Walsh scored Thomas with a triple. Doyle scored Walsh with a two out base hit to make the score 5-3. Skane struck out the final Nationals hitter to preserve the win for the White Sox.
Johnny Burke had a base hit for the Nationals. Daniel Ferris, Andre Mota, Lucas Donahue, and Jack Feeney all made tremendous defensive plays.
For the White Sox Muse reached base all three at bats being intentionally walked twice. Reid Heidebrecht, Dylan Terranova, and Sasha Sevastyanov all reached base while Atticus Beasley, Roddy McGillicuddy, and Noah Fay all made great defensive plays.
