AUGUSTA, Maine -- The Pittsfield Babe Ruth 16-year-old All-Stars broke open a pitchers' duel with four runs in the top of the seventh on the way to a 5-0 win over Augusta in the New England Regional on Saturday.

 

Eddie Ferris went 2-for-2 with a double and a pair of RBIs on a day when Pittsfield managed just three hits.

 

"Hard fought win today for the boys from Pittsfield," coach Ben Stohr said.

 

It scored the game-winning run in the top of the fifth without a base hit.

 

Cam Hillard was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Sam Glockner went into the game as a courtesy runner for the Pittsfield pitcher.

 

Glockner moved up to second on Goo Stannard's sacrifice bunt.

 

He then moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball to break a scoreless tie.

 

Hillard went six innnings on the mound, striking out seven and allowing one hit and four walks.

 

Ferris entered with two runners on after a pair of walks in the seventh and got a strikeout and a double play to end the game.

 

"They were an experienced team on the other side," Stohr said of the tournament's host team. "Pretty much their whole team was the 15-year-old Maine representative in the New England Regional at Wahconah Park [last summer]."

 

Pittsfield's "16U" squad played in the 14-year-old Babe Ruth Regional last summer. This year, Babe Ruth reconfigured to three tournaments: 13U, 14U and a 13- to 16-year-old division.

 

"A really crafty lefty kept us off balance all day, but the boys fought hard and got it done," Stohr said. "Very proud of them."

 

Pittsfield improved to 2-0 in pool play. It plays its pool's other 2-0 squad on Sunday morning when it goes against Norwalk, Conn. With a win, Pittsfield can avoid the first round of bracket play on Monday as the top seed coming out of its pool.

 

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Rhode Island Champion North Providence Saturday handed Pittsfield a 20-4 loss at Bullens Field in the 13-Year-Old New England Regional.

 

North Providence pounded out 16 hits in the five-inning win.

 

Pittsfield slipped to 0-2 in pool play and will play to stay in the tournament on Sunday when it takes on Stamford, Conn., at 1 p.m.

 

NEWTOWN, Conn. -- Jason Fields drove in the game-winning run in the top of the seventh Saturday as Pittsfield's 14-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars earned a 5-4 win over Keene, N.H., at the New England Regional.

 

Sebastian Herrera started the winning rally with a one-out single to left.

 

He moved up on a groundball out off the bat of Eli Kristensen.

 

Fields then singled to center field to bring home Herrera and break a 4-4 tie.

 

Robert Bazinet and Gavin Maffuccio each went 2-for-3 to lead a nine-hit attack for Pittsfield. Bazinet doubled and drove in a run.

 

Brendan Merwin, Bazinet and Herrera split time on the mound for Pittsfield, combining for 13 strikeouts.

 

Pittsfield advances to Monday's 1 p.m. regional semi-final, where it will face the winner of Sunday's game between Keene and Central Vermont.