Bronx, NY – The amazing run by the New Hartford Little League 11/12 year old All-Stars took another giant leap forward this afternoon in Bronx, New York as the District 10 and Section 2 North Champions knocked off Penfield, by a score of 4-3.
To say that this afternoon’s win came in dramatic fashion, would be, as the saying goes, an understatement.
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 5th inning, John Karwowski beat out an infield single to start things off. Two outs later and with Karwowski standing on second base, Connor Karwowski (John’s brother) was inserted into the game as a pinch hitter for cleanup man Tyler Potocki. After going down in the count no balls and two strikes, Connor Karwowski pounded a monster home run over the center field wall and into the Bronx sky line, scoring his brother John and himself to give New Hartford a 4-2 lead heading to the top of the 6th inning.
Connor Karwowski (Photo Courtesy of Perfect Game Imaging)
“It was one of the most amazing home runs I have ever seen a kid have” New Hartford Manager Jeff Kimball said of Connor Karwowski’s skyscraper, adding “I can’t tell you how happy I am for Connor and for our team, I’ve been telling these kids every single game, somebody is going to do it for us today and it doesn’t matter who it is, just keep working as a team and there is no telling how far we can go”.
New Hartford coaches were also quick to point out the efforts of Rocco Macera and Jacob Martinyuk, who got the team going early at the plate to sort of break the ice and calm the early game jitters.
Connor Karwowski’s memorable dinger would not have been a factor in this one, had not been for another terrific pitching performance by Roman Kimball, who reached his 85 pitch limit after 5 full innings, holding Penfield to just 2 runs. “Roman was Roman”, Assistant Coach John Randall told Mid York Sports after the game. “These teams are disciplined and today Penfield worked the count to 5 pitches and more batter after batter, but Roman won the wars today, he got them out, it just took a little longer than it normally does” Randall explained. “The team just gets behind him (Kimball) when he’s on the mound and today was no different.
Roman Kimball (Photo Courtesy of Perfect Game Imaging)
To add to the drama, excitement and the ant-acid medicine bills of multiple New Hartford coaches and parents, Penfield scored a run in the top of the 6th inning off of reliever Tyler Potocki, to pull within 4-3, with two outs and two on base. Jeff Kimball removed Potocki, in order to keep his pitch count below the number to allow him to pitch in the next game. Will Gall was called upon to relieve Potocki and the left hander walked the first batter he faced to load the bases.
Gall, a trusty left hander who has come through time and time again for New Hartford this post season on the mound, in the field and at the plate, got the next batter to ground out to Roman Kimball at shortstop to end the game and send New Hartford into the winner’s bracket of this double elimination tournament.
With the win, New Hartford will take on Pine Bush Little League (Middletown, NY) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Bronx, NY.
Be sure to check right back here with us for the most consistent coverage of New Hartford’s run toward a New York State Championship!
Best of luck guys and keep it rolling!
