Pool play has been completed; it’s now time to get down to brass tacks in the District 15 Little League Williamsport all-star tournament.
Beginning Friday and extending into the middle of next week, the ‘Final Four’ double-elimination tournament will be held at Harry Ball Field in Beverly. Beverly, Boxford, Gloucester and Hamilton-Wenham will battle for the right to raise the district flag and advance to the state sectionals next weekend.
Each of District 15’s 10 all-star teams played four games in pool play, with the top two squads in each bracket advancing to the double-elimination round.
Boxford was the only team to go unbeaten, finishing a perfect 4-0 atop Pool A for the second straight season. Looking for its first-ever District 15 pennant — and looking to cast aside two 1-run losses suffered in last summer’s Final Four round — Boxford dominated the competition by outscoring its four opponents by a combined 45-2.
They will take on Gloucester in the double elimination opener Friday at 5:30 p.m. Finishing second in Pool B, Gloucester — a squad with four 12-year-olds and eight 11-year-olds — went 3-1 in pool play, scoring 21 runs and allowing 18. They’ve had a penchant for rallying for wins, having done so in each of their three victories.
Beverly, the Pool B champions, also finished 3-1 in pool play. Strong pitching and timely hitting have helped the Orange-and-Black score 21 runs while surrendering just eight thus far. They’ll be looking to capture their first District 15 crown in a decade.
The Panthers will meet Hamilton-Wenham (3-1), the second place finisher in Pool A, Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Generals shook off an opening game 5-1 loss to Boxford and steamrolled their next three opponents, outscoring them to the tune of 38-3.
Friday’s two losing squads will battle to stay alive in the tournament when they face off Saturday at noon back at Harry Ball Field. The two winning squads from Friday will then clash at 2 p.m. Saturday, with the victor advancing to the District 15 title game on Wednesday. That team would then have to be defeated twice to have the pennant taken from them.
On Monday, the District 15 loser’s bracket final, featuring the winner of Saturday’s noon game and the loser of the 2 p.m. showdown, will take place at 6 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Wednesday at 6, with an ‘if necessary’ game set for Thursday, July 16 also at 6 p.m.
The District 15 champion will advance to the Section 4 tournament, joining the District 13 and 16 champs, as well as the District 13 runners-up, in a four-team double elimination tournament in Andover from July 22-25. This will determine which club moves on to the state Little League Final Four at CRA Field in Holden from July 30 to August 2.