BRAINTREE, Mass. – Sebastian Herrera struck out 15, and Brendan Merwin hit a walkoff single in the bottom of the sixth as the Pittsfield Little League American Division 12-year-olds started the state tournament with a 1-0 win over Reading on Friday.

 

Ben Sykes started the leadoff rally by working a one-out walk, and he came home on Merwin’s second hit of the game to give Pittsfield the victory and a berth in Saturday afternoon’s winners bracket game against the winner of Friday’s game between Middleboro and Wellesley.

 

Pittsfield had just three hits in the pitchers duel. Aiden Arseneau had the other.

 

Herrera allowed just one hit and walked just two.

 

Longtime Pittsfield Americans coach Ty Perrault commented that he could remember “very few” shutouts of any kind in the state tourney, let alone a complete-game one-hitter.

 

The winner of the four-team state tourney advances to the New England Regional in Bristol, Conn., next month. The winner of that regional represents New England in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.