By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
WILLIAMSPORT–The day belonged to New England’s Colin Lemieux in the first elimination game of the US bracket.
Lemieux picked up the win and drove in a run as New England defeated the Northwest, 8-0.
The loss eliminates the Northwest while giving New England a matchup against the loser of the West and Southwest.
The arms were on display early in the first elimination game of the United States bracket.
In the bottom of the first, after catching a foul ball, Oregon’s Evan Ullman threw a dart to home to catch Aaron Narcavage attempting to score.
In the bottom of the second New England capitalized on a leadoff double and single to take a 2-0 lead over the Northwest.
DJ Sollitto, after hitting a single for his first hit of the game, scored when Domenic Brazeau hit an RBI single into left field. Cam Nadeau, who came on as a pinch-hitter, scored on a passed ball after getting hit in the head to reach base safely.
Bowen Nelson came on to pitch for the Northwest in the bottom of the third inning.
He opened with back-to-back strikeouts before Chase Pariseau drove a ball down the left field line for a double. Pariseau was then stranded when Nelson picked up his third strikeout to end the inning. He went on to strikeout the first batter of the fourth to push his total to four in two innings.
After the inning’s initial out, Nelson gave up back-to-back singles to give New England runners at first and second with two outs. Colin Lemieux, who picked up the win as New England’s starting pitcher, made the Northwest immediately pay with an RBI single into left field. Kenny Rix followed with a three-run home run to put New England up 6-0.
Lemieux continued to push offensively, driving a ball through the infield for a run in the bottom of the fifth. A runner also scored on a passed ball to give New England an 8-0 lead on the Northwest.
After entering the game to pitch, Rix worked his way out of a base loaded situation in the top of the fifth inning.
After loading the bases, Rix recorded a strikeout over Zack Reynolds to end the inning.
New England 8, Northwest 0
NW 000 000-0 5 0
NE 020 42X-8 12 0
Blaine Causey, Bowen Nelson (3), Julian Mora (5), and Joe Schutz. Colin Lemieux, Kenny Rix (5), Cullen McGrew (6), and Chase Pariseau.
WP: Lemieux. LP: Causey.
Top Northwest hitters: Julian Mora 2-3, 2B. Top New England hitters: Kenny Rix 1-3, HR, run, RBI.
Records: Northwest 0-2. New England 1-1.
