BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro 12-year-old Little League All Stars defeated arch-rival Bennington in the seventh and deciding game on Tuesday by a score of 3-1. Brattleboro now moves on to the Vermont State Little League World Series this weekend in St. Johnsbury.
The game was scoreless for four innings, but Brattleboro broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. Brattleboro scored their third run in the bottom of the fifth with Tyler Millerick's home run over the left-field fence.
Bennington got on the board in the top of the sixth with a home run by Calib Hay, making it 3-1. Bennington had a chance to tie the score, but Brattleboro pitcher Zinabu McNeice retired the last three outs to end the game and the seven-game series.
The last time the Brattleboro 12-year-olds beat Bennington was in 2012.
Brattleboro starting pitcher Alex Lier pitched five innings and struck out six to eight batters, according to Brattleboro's play-by-play announcer Scott “The Voice” Smyth.
At the Vermont Little League World Series, Brattleboro will play the winner of District 2, which has not been determined. South Burlington Little League will represent District 1, and Montpelier Little League will represent District 4.