HOLDEN, Mass. – Brendan Michaud went the distance on the mound on Thursday in leading the Holden Little League 12-year-old All-Stars to a 5-1 win over PIttsfield in an elimination game in the Section 1 tournament.

 

Michaud struck out six, walked two and allowed three hits and an earned run in six innings of work as Holden advanced to the finals of the double-elimination tournament, where it will play at winner’s bracket winner Westfield.

 

Will Nichols, Troy Malloy and Edaniel Hebert accounted for Pittsfield’s hits.

 

Down, 5-0, in the top of the sixth, Malloy hit a one-out double to left. With two out, Hebert brought him home with a single to center field.

 

An error allowed Matt Knauth to reach and put runners at the corners, but Michaud got a pop up back to the mound to end the threat and the game.

 

Shayne Clairmont went all the way on the mound for Pittsfield, striking out three and allowing four earned runs.

 

Holden will have to beat Westfield twice in order to advance to the four-team state tournament.