Andrew "Dewey" Roden injured his thumb late in the Little League season and the big 10 year old almost missed the District 9 All-Star Tournament. It's a testament to his teammates abilities that they still cruised through pool play and reached the tournament final without him. Tonight at the beautiful DeLutis Field in Rome, the 9/10 District 9 Little League All-Star Championship was up for grabs between two familiar foes, Roden's team from Sherrill and the Northern Community All-Stars
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Northern Community would be seeking revenge from last season's loss in D-9 final and an 8-2 loss to Sherrill in pool play this season.
Before the fans from either team could make there way to their seats or take that first bite of their delicious DeLutis cheeseburgers, Sherrill jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top half of the first.
(Andrew "Dewey" Roden delivers a third inning two seamer.)
Alex Mussacchio bunted safely for a single, Brandon Albro drew a walk and Justin Kegebein reached on an error to load the bases with red shirts.
Northern Community starter Nate Cassidy's first pitch to cleanup man "Dewey" Roden sailed to the backstop, allowing Mussachio to score to make it 1-0 Sherrill.
Albro was gunned out at home trying to score from second for the first out. Roden drew a walk to put runners at first and third with nobody out.
Blake VanDreason's safety squeeze bunt scored Kegebin and an alert Roden thundered all the way to third base. Roden scored on a past ball to Bryce Cousin to give Sherrill the 3-0 advantage that they took to the home half of the first.
(Northern Community third baseman Tanner Ludwin (5) fires to first after fielding a bunt.)
Northern Community's Collin Litz stepped in an drilled an 0-2 offering from Roden in the home half of the first and it looked as though the kids in purple would storm right back.
Young Mr. Roden dug right down however and set the next three Northern Community hitters down in order to cancel the threat.
Sherrill went right back to business in the top of the second on a leadoff single by Riley Sperati, followed by a walk by Joey Hennessey.
A passed ball moved the runners to second and third and Kevin Holmes came through with a sac fly, scoring Sperati to make it 4-0 Sherrill.
A passed ball to Alec Mussachio scored Hennessey to make it 5-0 and then Mussachio drilled the next pitch to right center for a one out double.
( Sherrill celebrates big night at DeLutis with D9 crown.)
Mussachio later scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-0, which is the way we'd go to the home half of inning number 2.
After Northern Community went quietly in the bottom of the second, Sherrill tacked on another run in the top of the third as, you guessed it, Andrew Roden hammered a leadoff triple.
A gutsy Nate Cassidy struck out the next two Sherrill hitters but Nathan DeBarr's bunt up the third base line scored Roden and the lead was 7-0.
Roden mastered another 1-2-3 bottom of third and his Sherrill teammates made it hurt in the top of the fourth. Alec Mussachio's leadoff double chased Cassidy from the hill in favor of Collin Litz.
Brandon Albro bunted for hit and a fielder's choice off the bat of Justin Kegebein scored Mussachio from third to make it 8-0 Sherrill.
Roden, Bryce Cousin and Riley Sperati all came around to score after that to give Sherrill an 11-0 lead after 3 and 1/2 innings.
Northern Community couldn't manage a run in the bottom of the fourth and Sherrill took home the crown by virtue of the 10 run mercy rule.
"Dewey" Roden pitched a one hit shutout, striking out 5 and going 1 for 1 at the plate with 2 walks, a triple and 3 runs scored. Alec Mussachio was 3 for 3 at the plate as well.
After the game, "Dewey" told MHTS that he felt really good on the mound and at the plate tonight, adding "now we get to play teams from outside our district which will be alot of fun".
Roden, a Yankees fan but roots for San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum. When Andrew isn't playing baseball, he plays basketball and enjoys eating pasta.
As for school, young Mr. Roden favors math. Congratulations Andrew on being chosen as the Babe's Macaroni Grill and Bar PLayer of the Game.
(Sherrill right fielder Bryce Cousin (8) makes a leaping catch on a line drive.)
Sherrill will take their District 9 pennant into the Section 2 Tournament this weekend in Sherrill, which they will host and now get to play in.
Congratulations to Northern Community on a great season and a game effort tonight, regardless of the final score.
Sherrill 11 Northern Community 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 R
Northern Community 0 0 0 0 X X 0
Sherrill 3 3 1 5 X X 11
