Media’s rally fallls short in East Regional opener

Media Little League used a pair of comefrom-behind victories in the championship round to win the Pennsylvania 10U title and advance to the East Regional.

Well, the Comeback Kids almost did it again.

Media staged yet another sixth-inning rally, only this time the comeback bid fell short as Canal Little League from Delaware held on for a 5-3 victory Saturday in the opening game of the East Regional in Cranston, Rhode Island.

The Delaware state champions scored twice in the first inning and once in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-0 lead before Media got its offense in gear in the bottom of the sixth.

Gavin DiRita got thing started with a single and came round to score on Griffen Saleski’s double to center field. Charlie Bevan was hit by a pitch and Timmy Quigley followed with a single down the third base line to load the bases.

Saleski stole home and Bevan scored when Ralph Lardieri poked his second hit of the game to cut the deficit to 5-3 with two outs in the sixth inning and put runners at the corners, but that’s where the rally ended. Kenny Naugle popped out to end the comeback bid.

DiRita, Quigley and Charlie Bevan combined on a three-hitter for Media, while Saleski had two hits.

Media still has three more games in pool play in the Mid-Atlantic portion of the tournament. The Pennsylvania champions are off Sunday and take on Berlin Little League, the Maryland state champ, at 11 a.m. Monday. Media then faces New Jersey champ Hillsdale Tuesday (5 p.m.) and closes out pool play Thursday against New York champ South Shore (11 a.m.).

The top two teams in the pool play for the Mid-Atlantic title Friday. The winner of that game faces the New England champ Saturday for the East Regional championship.

ON THIS DATE IN DELCO ...