The Concord 13- to 15-year old Babe Ruth All-Stars wrapped up pool play with a 3-2 victory over Waterford, Conn., securing a bye and sending the All-Stars directly to the semifinals of the New England Babe Ruth Regional Tournament in Augusta, Maine.
Concord tacked on single runs in the first, third and fourth innings to take a 3-0 lead, and starter Tyler Wright kept the Connecticut champions off the board until Waterford scored a pair of runs in the fifth.
Trevor Smith (2-for-3) scored in the first inning for the All-Stars, reaching base on a single, advancing on a passed ball and scoring off a Ryan Kastle single to right.
In the third, Jake Sullivan hit a leadoff single, advanced to third on a single by Smith and scored on a Nate Vandersea sacrifice fly.
Jonah Wachter rounded out Concord’s scoring in the fourth, reaching base on a double and coming home on a hit from Mike Stoddard (1-for-2, sacrifice fly).
Wright struck out nine batters in five innings and allowed just four hits and two walks to secure the win, while Sullivan closed out the final two innings for the save.
Concord finished on top of Pool A with a 3-0 record and will play the winner of Augusta vs. Tri-County, a rematch of the Maine state championship, on Tuesday.
The All-Stars already beat the Augusta hosts, 4-2, in their second pool play contest.
Concord topped St. Johnsbury, Vt., 8-2, in the opener.