Riverside Claims 70th Ellwood City Little League Tournament

AND THE CHAMPION IS…Riverside downed Ellwood City 3-1 to win the 70th Ellwood City Little League Tournament Sunday night at Freidhoff Field.

Dylan Meyer led Riverside to victory with a home run and two RBI’s. This victory gave Riverside their fifth title in the tournament and their first since 2012. Riverside scored two runs in the top of the first inning to take the early lead. With one out, Matthew Santillo singled and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Meyer followed with a single to score and take a 1-0 lead. Meyer went to second base on the throw to the plate and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Tony Chill followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Meyer and increase the lead to 2-0.

Riverside added to their lead with a run in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Meyer smacked a solo home run to center to raise their lead to 3-0. Ellwood City mounted a serious threat in their final at bat in the sixth inning. Anthony Popovich led off the inning with a single and Colton HArdy drew a walk to put runner on first and second base. Matt Kelly followed with a line out to third base. Cameron Mills then hit a long drive to deep center field that scored Popovich and cut the deficit to 3-1. After a strikeout, Allan Street drew a base on balls to load the bases, a strikeout ended the threat and the game.

Meyer led Riverside with a home run, single and two RBI’s. Santillo and Dylan Madison added singles. Popovich led Ellwood City with two singles. Mills rapped an RBI-single and Garrett Banyay added a single.

Jared Sanders was the starting and winning pitcher for Riverside. He threw three scoreless innings and allowed one hit. He struck out four batters. Santillo picked up the save allowing one run and three hits. He fanned six batter for Riverside. Hardy threw two scoreless innings for Ellwood City. He did not allow a hit and fanned two batters.

Ellwood City’s Popovich was the defensive star of the game. He handled five chances at second base flawlessly including a smash off the bat of Sanders. Matt Meyer managed Riverside to the tournament crown. Craig Mills piloted Ellwood City to the second place finish.

With the victory, Riverside dethroned two-time defending champion Ellwood City. Riverside avenged last years’s 10-8 loss in the championship to Ellwood City. Ellwood City defeated Mars 4-2 to win the title in 2019. The game MYP’s were Jared Sanders for Riverside and Anthony Popovich for Ellwood City.

Ellwood City’s Colton Hardy also won the Little League Home Run Derby Championship. Hardy smacked six home runs to win the 20th Ellwood City Home Run Derby. Hardy defeated 23 other contestants.

Congratulations to both boys and congratulations to Riverside for winning the title!

Below are a few photos from the tournament.