NBLL Majors: Red Sox advance to finals

NEWPORT BEACH - The Red Sox defeated the Braves in back-to-back

games to advance to the Newport Beach Little League Majors Championships.

The Red Sox knocked out the Braves, 2-1, and 4-3, to advance to

Saturday’s finals.

In the 2-1 win, J.R. Dion pitched a complete-game three-hitter, striking

out 10, while walking only one.

Dion also had a two-run single, scoring Steven Hillgren and John Angelo,

giving the Red Sox the lead for good.

For the Braves, Evan Zoller threw a complete-game five-hitter with seven

strikeouts, while Thomas Dialynas had a hit and scored the team’s lone

run.

Leading the Red Sox’ defense was Brett Crowley, Jake Wuebben, Tanner

Nazum, John Angelo, Grant Gerdau, Michael Ford and John Gothard.

In Game 2, Hillgren pitched a complete game with six strikeouts for the

Red Sox, out-dueling the Braves’ Tyler Ellis, who struck out five in the

complete-game effort.

Singles by Paul Knezevic, Zoller, James Gray and Jordan Taormina gave the

Braves an early 2-0 lead.

Angelo scored two early runs for the Red Sox, one on a Dion RBI single,

to tie the game.

After the Braves regained the lead at 3-2, Hillgren reached base and

scored on a Dion RBI hit. Dion would later steal home with the

game-winning run.