EASTCHESTER – Rye’s 12U Little League Baseball Tournament Team improved to 2-0 in New York-District 20 with a 4-1 win over Elmsford on Sunday morning.
Jack Bruemmer picked up the win on the mound for Rye, tossing three scoreless innings and striking out six Elmsford batters. He also went 1/2 at the plate with a first inning RBI.
“I felt a little nervous, if I’m going to be honest,” Bruemmer said after the game. “But I’m pretty happy with what I did.”
Bruemmer’s outing stopped after 50 pitches, meaning he is eligible to pitch again on Wednesday. He played first base and batted cleanup when not on the mound.
Luke Bell scored twice for Rye, going 1/1 with a double and a HBP as the leadoff man. He scampered home on a dropped third strike to score a critical run in the bottom of the third inning, showing off his speed. Bell also pitched an inning, allowing an unearned run and recording two strikeouts to secure a hold. He is eligible to pitch as soon as tomorrow.
Chris Holahan roped a ground rule double in the bottom of the fifth, before Chris Woods drove him home with a line drive single on a 3-0 pitch for Rye’s fourth run. “I think they thought it was bad,” Woods said when asked about swinging on 3-0. “But it was right down the middle, so I had to swing.”
“I actually gave him the take sign,” Head Coach Adam Kessner confirmed after the game. “And he said ‘but it was right down the middle, coach!’.”
Right after the RBI single, Woods was involved in a 9-4-5 put out at third base to start off the top of the sixth inning on defense. Playing right field, he chased a ball to the wall before starting a big-league style relay to gun the Elmsford hitter at third base trying to stretch a double into a triple.
“I was kinda nervous because I didn’t know he was going,” Woods said when asked about the play. “So I just got it in.”
That play was a prime example of why Rye won today: their defense was very strong throughout the game, only committing one error and making numerous plays ranging on a difficulty scale. On the hill, pitchers combined for just six baserunners against and a strong 10 strikeouts.
Michael Vernace picked up the save for Rye, throwing the final two innings with little drama outside the big play at third base. He struck out two and induced three softly hit balls for his other five outs.
“It’s all about pitching and defense,” Kessner said after the game. “Hopefully our bats come alive, but the pitching and defense is going to keep us in every game.”
The 12Us will look to move to a perfect 3-0 in District 20 tomorrow, Monday, June 24, against crosstown rivals Harrison. The game is set at Ardsley’s Little League field for 5:30pm. When asked about their thoughts for that contest, the entire team collectively responded with one word: “Win.”
