Published in the July 22, 2016 edition
THE WHITE Sox were crowned the City Series Champs in Major Little League Baseball. In front is Jack Lavery. In the first row (from left to right are Emmet Phelan, Tommy Keefe, Roddy McGuillicuddy and Tyler Muse. In the second row (from left to right) are Manager Eric Taitano, Alec Taitano, Luke Desmond, Patrick Cotter, Chris Gerety, Trevor Botto and Coach Danny Muse.
MELROSE — The National League Cubs and American League White Sox played a tremendous City Series championship game with the White Sox holding on to win, 6-5, in front of a huge crowd at Lewis Monk Field.
The pitching was outstanding with White Sox starter, Trevor Botto striking out 10 Cubs batters in four and two-thirds innings, while Cubs reliever Gavin Donahue had 15 K’s in five and a third innings pitched.
The White Sox jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the top of the first with key hits by Tyler Muse (lead off double), Chris Gerety, Luke Desmond, Alec Taitano (two-run double), Emmet Phelan (RBI single), and Jack Lavery (three-run double).
The Cubs got one back in the bottom of the first with a solo home run over the left field fence by Ronan Donahue.
The White Sox turned a critical double play in the bottom of the third when first baseman Desmond threw a runner out at home plate and catcher Tommy Keefe got up and gunned the Cubs runner who was attempting to take second base.
The score remained 6-1 until the bottom of the fourth when the Cubs scored two runs on key hits/at bats by Ellis Davis, Gavin Donahue, Ronan Donahue, Leo Costa, and Jimmy Kehoe to make it 6-3 through four.
The Cubs kept battling back but the White Sox made two tremendous plays at the plate between catcher Keefe and Botto to turn passed balls into outs.
In the bottom of the sixth with one out and one runner on, Sam George hit a clutch two-run home run to make the score 6-5 White Sox. The Cubs put two runners on with two outs, but clutch closer Gerety struck out the final Cubs batter to save the championship win for the White Sox.
Both teams played extremely well and demonstrated great sportsmanship. This was a great Little League baseball game.
