LITTLE LEAGUE: Taunton East Angels win annual city championship series over the Dodgers
TAUNTON — There’s a new Little League city champion in Taunton.
The Taunton East Angels baseball team recently captured the annual city championship, sweeping the Taunton West Dodgers in two games.
“First [I] give respect to all the Dodgers players for a tough battle,” Angels manager Eddy Travers said. “Those kids were fighters and they [are] very well-coached. Hopefully, we can meet them there again next year."
In Game 1 at Norton Avenue, the West squad jumped out to a 4-0 lead, thanks to a pair of hits and a home run by Brevan Rogers. The Dodgers sliced the lead to 4-3 in the third inning before the Angels added a run in the fifth.
Champions:Taunton East Little League 11-year-old all stars win state championship
From there, it was all about Logan Kennedy, who finished the job in a complete-game effort. Kennedy fanned 11 batters in the victory.
The series switched back to Middleboro Avenue for Game 2.
This time it was the Dodgers who jumped out to a five-run lead in the first inning.
But the Angels answered with four runs in the bottom half to trail after one, 5-4. The Dodgers increased the score to 6-4 in the following inning before Kennedy smashed a two-run home to tie the game at 6-6.
Kennedy continued his heroics in the third inning, smashing a two-run triple to give the Angels the lead for good at 8-6.
Noah Faris contributed a two-run hit to up the score at 10-6 at the end of four.
The Angels put the game out of reach in the fifth, scoring five more runs.
Kennedy added his second home run of the contest. Rogers also collected an RBI double. Eddie Travers got the win on the hill after a shaky start. He fanned 10 batters in 5.2 innings.
After the win, Eddy Travers spoke about Kennedy.
Lens on Little League:Taunton East Hingham Little League photos
I'm going to miss my 12-year-old, [who] is moving on to play on the big diamond next year. He's a great player and a better person. I'm going to miss Logan Kennedy.”
Members of the champion Angels are Logan Kennedy, Eddie Travers, Brevan Rogers, Mark Volner, Ashton Balzarini, Richard Leon, Maxton Mills, Caleb Bond, Noah Frias, Brian Proctor, Lukas Hennessy, and Cam Manion.
“Thanks to all my Angels players coaches and all the family and friends for the support,” Eddy Travers said. “[I’m] looking forward to the tough challenge of trying to repeat next year.”
Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Chezsports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.