AMHERST, N.S. – The Carter's Cresting Cubs are the 2019 Amherst Little League champions after Phoenix Remington hit a game-ending double in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Jaxon Reynolds from second base.
“That’s a great way for Phoenix to end off his little league career,” Cubs coach Tim Hunter said after the game. “To hit a game-winning double that scores the winning run in extra innings, you couldn’t write a better script than that.”
The Cubs won Game 3 of the best-of-three championship series by a score of 5-4.
The Lions took a 4-1 lead in the top of the third inning thanks in part to a two-run homer off the bat of Owen Wood.
The Cubs battled back in the bottom of the third, tying the game 4-4.
The score didn’t change until the bottom of the seventh inning when Reynolds was walked to first base and then stole second.
With one out Remington hit the double, scoring Reynolds.
The first two games of the championship series were each decided by one point, with the Cubs winning Game 1 and the Lions winning Game 2.
“The series was great. Both teams were equally matched and it could have gone either way,” Hunter said. “It was probably one of the greatest series I’ve seen since I’ve been involved in Amherst Little League.”
Hunter started coaching little league in 1992, took a few years off, and then started coaching again four years ago.
“This season was a great experience for the boys, as much as it was for the coaches,” Hunter said. “The kids worked well together, they played hard, they were dedicated, and they supported the other team’s as well. That was a big thing for them.”
Four kids graduate from the Cubs this year; Phoenix Remington, Connor Hunter, Jaxon Reynolds and Noah Petten.
“All four kids have been great leaders within our team,” Hunter said.
Remington pitched the first six innings for the Cubs before Reynolds came in for relief in the seventh. They combined for 13 strikeouts, and gave up two walks and six hits.
Remington scored two doubles and a single, Reynolds and Hunter hit one double each, and Cohen Ingraham hit one single.
Nolan McNally pitched six innings for the Lions and Ethan Fraser pitched the seventh inning.
They gave up seven hits and four walks, and struck out 13 batters.
Wood hit a homer and one single for the Lions, McNally hit a triple, Austin Dickie hit two singles, and Nathaniel Noiles and Colton Hache hit one single each.
Consolation series
The Mixers won the best-of-three consolation series 2-1 after winning Game 3 by a score of 4-3 over the Y’s Guys.
The Y’s Guys were down 4-0 heading into the sixth and final inning and nearly tied it up before Manny Nickerson was able to strike out the final batter.
Nickerson pitched all six innings for the Mixers, giving up five hits and four walks, while striking out 15 batters.
Nickerson led the Mixers with one home run, a double, and a single.
Hunter Ripley added a double, and Carter Lusby hit one single.
Aaden McAloney pitched for the Y’s Guys.
He gave up five hits, walked 10 batters, and struck out 13 batters.
Mason Sloan hit a home run for the Y’s Guys, Logan Boudreau hit a double, and Caleb Oulton, Grayson Varner, and Cohen Legere hit one single each.
