TRUMBULL, Conn. -- Brayden Gutzmer drove in a pair of runs at the plate and threw four strong innings on the mound Sunday as the Pittsfield Babe Ruth 15-year-old All-Stars won a do-or-die game to advance out of pool play at the New England Regional.

 

Gutzmer's two-run infield single in the bottom of the second was all the offense Pittsfield needed in a 2-1 win over Vermont Champion Three Corners.

 

Pittsfield and Three Corners both started 0-2 in the four-team Pool A with three teams from each pool advancing to the knockout round that gets under way on Monday.

 

Antonio Scalise started the winning rally with a walk, and Tommy Mullin reached on a fielders choice. Both moved up on stolen bases ahead of Gutzmer, who helped his cause by driving in a pair of runs.

 

On the hill, Gutzmer struck out seven, walked four, scattered four hits and allowed one run.

 

Christian Salzarulo threw three innings of one-hit baseball with one strikeout to earn the save.

 

"This is what we are used to doing: pitching and playing defense," Pittsfield Manager Paul Brindle said.

 

Pittsfield finished with five hits: two by Gutzmer and one apiece from Owen Salvatore, Nick Brindle and Walker Abdallah.

 

Pittsfield Monday will face the second-place team from the tournament's other pool, New Hampshire Champion Lamprey River, for a berth in Tuesday's semi-finals.

 

13-Year-Old Regional

14-Year-Old Regional

The Pittsfield 13s in Westfield and the 14s in Rochester, N.H., enjoyed an unplanned day off on Sunday due to rain.

 

At Westfield's Billy Bullens Field on Monday, the Pittsfield 13s will face Norfolk, Conn., at 10 a.m. The 14s will face Fall River, Mass., at 5 on Monday.