Little League Minors

Paul Jeffers-Mayhew singled with the bases loaded in the Jays seven-run fifth. Jeff Cimeno followed with a base-clearing triple. Photos by Ralph Stewart

Blue Jays pitcher Nainoa Cooperrider held the Twins to one run in five innings striking out eight batters. The Jays exploded for seven runs in the 5th and held on to win, 10-2.

In the top of the first inning, the Jays posted two runs.

Jeff Cimeno led off with a walk. The next two batters Nainoa Cooperrider and Zach Danz, were hit by pitched balls and the bases were loaded. Tucker McNeely took the mound and got Elijah LaRue to hit into a fielders choice, 6-4, but two runs came across the plate. Gabe Bergeron was hit by a pitched ball, the third hit batter of the inning. Aaron Lowe's pop fly went for a hit. Liam Craffey took a third strike. Akzel Cooperrider grounded out to first unassisted.

The Twins got one back in the bottom of the first. McNeely reached with an infield hit, went to second on a passed ball and stole third. Cyrus Breese fanned, Oscar Fournier grounded out to first driving in McNeely. Mason Jeffers lined out to short.

Winning pitcher Nainoa Cooperrider held the Twins to one run in five innings of work.

The Jays went in order in the second. So did the Twins.

Paul Jeffers-Mayhew reached in the third, but McNeely struck out Davies, Cimeno, and A. Cooperrider.

In the Twins half, Nick Vukota singled, but Bresnick and Maciel fanned and Donnelly grounded out.

The Jays added a run in the fourth. LaRue walked, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Aaron Lowe's bouncer to third.

In the fourth, Nathaniel Backus singled, took second when the ball was bobbled but was thrown out trying to reach third, McNeely and Breese went down on strikes.

Silas Berlin began the seven-run fifth with an infield single. The next two batters walked, filling the bases. Jeffers-Mayhew drove in one with a hit to right. Cimeno tripled driving in three. A. Cooperrider and Danz walked reloading the bases. LaRue's Texas Leaguer drove in three, raising the ante to 10-1

After Austin Fournier went down on strikes, the Twins Mason Jeffers singled and went to second on an overthrow. Andrew Fournier bounced back to the pitcher, Jeffers taking third, but died there when the next batter took a third strike,

The Jays went quietly, 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth.

In the Twins half, Jeffers looked at a third strike. Bresnick walked and stole second and eventually scored the game's final run, driven in by Tim Maciel.

It took a great throw and a quick tag to prevent Cub Vincent Carlomagno from scoring in the fourth.

Cubs reign

In a well-played pitchers duel, the Cubs defeated the A's, 1-0, to claim the Vineyard Little League majors championship, Saturday, at Veira Park in Oak Bluffs.

First inning: The Cubs scored the game's only run in the top of the first. Tyson Araujo led off with a double lining the ball into left field. Alec Tattersall drew a base on balls. Jack Roberts flied out to deep right field, both runners tagged and moved up. Chris Mayhew walked, loading the bases. Kyle Stobie reached on an infield hit, Araujo scoring. Ryan Gosson hit into a fielder's choice, pitcher to catcher forcing Tattersall. Andrew Jacobs-Walsh struck out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the first, the A's went down 1-2-3. Nick Nelson flied out to right, Colin Cameron struck out swinging. Mike Mussell grounded out to second.

Second inning: Brian Hurley walked. Vincent Carlomagno reached on an error at short. Araujo, up for a second time, grounded back to the pitcher. Tattersall walked again. Roberts popped out. Mayhew grounded out to first.

In the A's half, Eli Berlow doubled, but he was stranded as Harrry West, Joe Wannamaker, and Sam Entner all fanned.

Third inning: Cubs up. Stobie grounded out 1-3, and Gosson 6-3, and Jacobs-Walsh went down swinging.

For the A's, Oliver Filley fanned as did Mike Bizzarro. Zack Wannamaker hit back to the pitcher.

Fourth inning: Carlomagno singled, Araujo was called out on strikes, Tattersall popped to second. Roberts drove the ball to the fence in left field and, in the play of the game, Mike Mussell threw a strike to catcher Nick Nelson, nailing Carlomagno at the plate.

For the A's, Nelson and Cameron bounced back to the pitcher. Mussell reached. Berlow was out 1-3.

West led off the fifth, drawing a base on balls. Joe Wannamaker popped to first. Zack Wannamaker and Filley struck out.

Fifth inning: Roberts and Stobie singled. Jacobs -Walsh struck out. Hurley hit into a fielder's choice, pitcher to third. Carlomagno grounded out to second.

Sixth inning. Filley took the mound. Araujo reached on an error at third. Tattersall flied out to right field. Roberts hit into a 6-4 fielder's choice. Mayhew took a called third strike.

With Tattersall pitching, Sean McAndrews struck out as did Nick Nelson. Colin Cameron grounded out 5-3 to end the game.

Cubs 1, Athletics 0.