GLOUCESTER, Mass. -- Christian Barry hit a three-run home run in bottom of the fifth to give the Pittsfield Little League American Division 12-year-old All-Stars a 10-run lead and a 12-2 victory over the Needham Nationals at the state tournament on Friday night.

 

Pittsfield improved to 2-0 in the three-game round robin. After round robin play concludes on Saturday, the top two teams in the tourney will go to Sunday afternoon's final.

 

Cam Blake went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and a walk, and Sebastian Herrera was 2-for-3 with a double.

 

Needham scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but the Pittsfield Americans responded with a four-run rally in the bottom of the frame.

 

Barry started the rally by reaching on an error. Blake doubled, and Herrera singled before Kevin Konefal was hit by a pitch. All four ended up scoring to give the Americans a lead they did not relinquish.

 

In the second, Blake, Herrera and Konefal recorded consecutive doubles as the Americans stretched their lead to 7-2.

 

The Americans tacked on runs in the third and fourth to lead by seven going to the fifth.

 

Sam Gyurjian reached on an error to start the fifth, and Jack Bellafontaine worked a walk ahead of Barry's game-ending homer.

 

Barry also got the start on the mound for Pittsfield and struck out six before handing the ball to Konefal in the top of the fifth.