Central Valley Wins 74th Ellwood City Little League Tournament; EC Finishes 3rd

Central Valley downed Laurel, 11-4, to win the 74th Ellwood City Little League Tournament on Monday night at Freidhoff Field.

WKBN-TV in Youngstown, Ohio televised the game-their first broadcast ever of a Little League game in Pennsylvania. Before the game, Richie Allen, who will be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, was acknowleged by the Ellwood City Amateur Baseball Federation. Allen hit the game-winning home run in the 3rd Ellwood City Little League Tournament in 1952.

Central Valley scored two runs in the first inning and added three in the second inning to take a 5-0 lead. Central Valley added a solo run in the third inning to increase their lead to 6-0. Laurel rallied for three in the top of the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 6-3. Laurel narrowed the lead to 6-4 with a solo run in the top of the fifth inning. But a five-run rally in the bottom 0f the fifth inning alowed Central Valley to pull away for the victory. Will Loftus homered and singled and drove with two RBI for Central Valley. Cy Verba doubled and singled with three RBI and Grady McKim doubled and singled with an RBI. Nicholas Grayson doubled with two RBI, Mason Betters rapped an RBI-double and Santino Polizotto added a single. Nolan Dorr led Laurel with two singles. Luca Loccisano singled with an RBI and Jayse McVicker and Wyatt Nagel added singles.

McKim was the winning pitcher with three scoreless innings of work allowing one hit. Luca Ulizio allowed one run in relief to gain the save for Central Valley.

Ellwood City defeated Neshannock 5-2 on Saturday but fell to eventual runner-up Laurel later in the evening.  The Spartans knocked of Ellwood City 9-8 to eliminate Ellwood City from the tournament.

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