PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Three pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts Wednesday as the Great Barrington All-Stars defeated North Adams, 8-3, in the opening round of the Don Gleason District 1 9- and 10-year-old tournament at Belanger Field.

 

Garnett Curtin and Mark Bailey struck out six hitters apiece, and Blake Smith recorded four Ks in the final 1-⅔ innings in Great Barrington’s come-from-behind win.

 

North Adams drew first blood with three runs in the top of the third. An error and a hit batter put two aboard for Jacob Howland, who delivered an RBI single to right. Logan Crockwell went from first to third on the hit, and and Howland took second on a throw home.

 

After Walter Mazza worked a walk for North Adams, Ethan Gagne delivered an RBI single, and an error on that play allowed the second runner to score, making it 3-0.

 

Great Barrington got one run back in the bottom of the inning thanks to a couple of walks and a couple of wild pitches, but the real damage came one inning later.

 

The South County squad scored six in the fourth to go ahead, 7-3.

 

Ty Stalker and Sam St. Pierre each had a two-run single in the rally, which was capped when Walt Hewins drove the ball up the middle with two out to score Stalker.

 

In the fifth, Carter Lutz worked a bases loaded walk to bring home Charlie Loring, who led off the inning with a single.

 

The tournament opened with two games on Wednesday. The Pittsfield National League took on the Pittsfield National League at Deming Park in the other game.

 

On Thursday, the Americans will face North Adams at Deming Field. Great Barrington will play the Nationals on Friday evening.

 

All four teams will be in action at Deming on Saturday at noon and 2, and the championship game is scheduled for Sunday at noon.

 

More photos of this game here.