Naamans advances to Majors division state championship

Naamans Little League Majors pose with the D2 banner after winning the championship. Photo by Mike Lang

BRANDYWINE HUNDRED — Brady Bell slammed a two-out home run in the top of the first inning, staking Naamans Little League to a lead it would never relinquish in a 7-2 win over Canal Little League on Thursday at Naamans. With the win, Naamans captured the District II Major Little League championship and advanced to the state tournament next week.

It was the third time the teams had met in the last six days. Naamans fell behind in both games; they came back to win the first, but Canal defeated them Wednesday night to force Thursday’s contest in the double-elimination bracket.

Maddox Gable retired the first two batters he faced before the left-handed swinging Bell sent the first pitch he saw deep over the fence in right-center and off the concession stand.

They added two more in the second. Anthony Catalina was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and Trey Kwoka reached on an infield single. Catalina went to third on the play, and Kwoka advanced to second on the throw. Both scored on a single to right by Nathan Cruser.

That was plenty for Catalina, who worked out of trouble a few times over the course of the evening. Canal loaded the bases with one out in the first, and they had two runners reach in the second. But some good defense helped Catalina maintain the lead.

Bell drove in two more in the third with a two-out double as Naamans added some insurance. Catalina helped himself with an RBI single. Owen Fresconi and Gable each had run-scoring singles for Canal in the bottom of the third.

Naamans will play the winner of District 3 on July 24 at MOT Little League. You can catch the game live on Delaware Live Sports.