ASHLAND — Ashland Little League 11U All-Stars came out victorious Thursday evening when they took down Upper Schuylkill 7-3.
Nico Sajone led Ashland on the day. Sajone hit a double and a single and drove in a game-high three runs. Oliver Kerlavage led Upper Schuylkill with two hits and an RBI.
“We have a good team with great guys,” said Sajone. “They are all supportive and helpful to me.”
Upper Schuylkill’s Elijah Swope (4) delivers a pitch as Ashland and Upper Schuylkill face off at the Ashland Little League field, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
Ashland’s Conner Damiter (5) throws the ball to first base as Ashland and Upper Schuylkill face off at the Ashland Little League field, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
Ashland’s Nico Sajone (25) delivers a pitch as Ashland and Upper Schuylkill face off at the Ashland Little League field, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
Ashland’s Conner Damiter (5) goes to tag Upper Schuylkill’s Jax Wowak (14) as Ashland and Upper Schuylkill face off at the Ashland Little League field, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
Upper Schuylkill’s Oliver Kerlavage (15) swings for the ball as Ashland and Upper Schuylkill face off at the Ashland Little League field, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
Upper Schuylkill’s Oliver Kerlavage (15) delivers a pitch as Ashland and Upper Schuylkill face off at the Ashland Little League field, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Upper Schuylkill’s Elijah Swope (4) delivers a pitch as Ashland and Upper Schuylkill face off at the Ashland Little League field, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
Ashland gained momentum early as they struck first in the first inning. After back-to-back walks Sajone drove in two runs on a ground rule double to make it 2-0. Trevor Studenmeier and Geno Fanelli each added RBIs to give Ashland a 4-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
“It’s a great team to win top to bottom,” said Ashland’s coach Peter Damiter. “We played good defense and everyone was hitting. It was a complete team win.”
Ashland struck again in the top of the third inning. After a walk Evan Wartman reached base on a single to put runners on first and second base. Wartman reached third base on an error. Wartman gave Ashland a 5-0 lead when he came in to score on a pass ball. After a walk Sajone delivered once again. Sajone drove in two more runs on a single to extend Ashland’s lead to 7-0.
“The fast start got our momentum going,” said Damiter. “We got it going and never looked back.”
Upper Schuylkill did not go down without a fight. After a pop out Jax Wowak hit a single and reached second base on an error. Wowak showed his hustle as he came in to score on a throwing error after a ground out to make it a 7-1 game.
Upper Schuylkill scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Thanks to an RBI single by Kerlavage and a successful steal at home plate by Eli Maksimik.
Ashland kept their cool and got out of the inning after a groundout to secure the win.
Damiter’s squad also earned the number one seed in the playoffs with the win.
“We get to play our games at home and we don’t have to travel,” said Sajone. “It is going to be fun.”
“We need to keep plugging along and keep doing what we have been practicing,” said Damiter.
The 11U semifinals will get started on Sunday. The championship will take place on Tuesday.
Ashland 7 — J. Damiter 2B 2 1 0 0, C. Damiter SS 2 2 1 0, Deeter CF 1 2 0 0 Sajone P 3 1 2 3, Staudemeier 1B 3 0 1 1, Fanelli 3B 3 0 2 1, Hutnick LF 3 0 0 0, McAllister 2 0 1 0, Leib 2 0 1 0, C. Wartman RF 2 0 1 0, Marquardt 1 0 0 0, E. Wartman C 1 1 1 0
Upper Schuylkill 3 — Maksimik SS 2 1 0 0, Kerlavage P 3 0 2 1, Donovan 3B 3 0 0 0, Wowak C 1 1 1 0, Yarnitsky 2B 2 0 0 1, Swope 1B 1 0 0 0, Lempfort CF 1 0 0 0, Mentusky RF 2 0 0 0, Pukavage SS 1 0 0 0, Stine RF 2 0 0 0, Knecht RF 2 0 0 0, Davis EH 1 1 1 0
2B — Sajone, Davis;
ASH (4-0) — 4 0 3 0 0 0 — 7
USH (2-2) — 0 0 0 1 0 2 — 3
Ashland
IP H R ER BB SO
Sajone 2.2 2 0 0 3 1
Staudenmeier 2.2 1 2 1 2 5
Cole 0.2 1 1 1 1 0
Upper Schuylkill
Kerlavage 2.2 6 7 7 5 1
Swope 3.1 4 0 0 0 4
Originally Published: June 26, 2025 at 9:24 PM EDT