NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Connor Paronto struck out eight and allowed just two hits and no earned runs for the Pittsfield Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars in a 12-1 win over Waterford, Conn., on Thursday morning at the New England Championship.

 

Paronto announced his presence in the bottom of the first with his team on top, 1-0.

 

The Connecticut state champions used a single, a walk and an error to load the bases with two out, and Paronto got the next hitter on three straight strikes to end the inning.

 

He went on to strand runners at the corners in the third inning with a fly ball to Brendan Socie, and he left two on in the fifth with an inning-ending groundout to first baseman Morrie Fried.

 

Pittsfield's offense then broke open a 4-1 game with eight runs in the top of the sixth to put the contest away.

 

Goo Stannard hit a bases-loaded RBI single to drive in the first run. Socie then drove in two with a single to left.

 

Jackson Almeida drove in a pair to make it 9-1. Fried doubled in a run, and Eddie Ferris hit a two-run single to left to cap the rally.

 

Evan Roccabruna came on to finish the game, striking out a pair in a scoreless inning.

 

Fried went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. Ferris was 2-for-r with three RBIs, and Christian Barry went 2-for-3 and scored three times at the top of Pittsfield's lineup.

 

Pittsfield improved to 2-0 in pool play at the eight-team tournament.

 

It finishes play in Pool A on Friday afternoon against Rhode Island champion Cranston, which dropped an 11-0 decision to Waterford in their opener on Wednesday.