TORRINGTON – The Mets and the Cardinals will face off in the Torrington Little League City Tournament finals after a pair of games Tuesday.
The Mets staged a valiant comeback for the 8-7 win over the Giants to secure a spot in the finals game, scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Thursday at the Torrington Sports Complex. Likewise, the Cardinals held off the Cubs on a 603 win to lock in the second slot in the tournament finals.
Mets 8, Giants 7
In the first inning with two outs, the Gian’ts Matthew Hellis hit a pop fly to the outfield, making it to second base then advancing to third base on a Mets error. Mets pitcher Nathaniel Stull over-threw the catcher, opening home plate for Hellis to score the first run of the game.
The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the first on a double by Ayden Desmond, who made it to second then scored on the next play on a sacrifice.
In the top of the second, Giant’s pitcher Harper Boche led off with a single to first. The Giants then loaded the bases before Mets pitcher Nathaniel Stull walked in a run, bringing Hellis back to the plate.
Hellis tapped a three-run homer, being stopped himself at third. With the next batter at the plate, Hellis scampered home on a steal.
The Giants seemed poised to make it to the championship game, leading 7-4 going into the sixth and final inning. But a four-run rally, capped by a run by Brodie Moffat, sealed the deal for the Mets and advanced them to Thursday’s final game.
Cardinals 6, Cubs 3
The Cubs led 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning before the Cardinals were handed a bases-loaded situation on walks after lead-off batter Brody Ringrose went down on strikes. The Cards came back, tying the game 3-3 before closing out the inning.
The Cardinals pulled ahead and never looked back, scoring three more in the fifth. The Cardinals held on to win 6-3 after a controversial call by the umpire was reversed.
