FREEHOLD, N.J. — Mark Wernoch carried Manchester Little League to a 10-5 victory over Bronco Little League of Hampden with a strong game at the plate and on the mound Tuesday at Michael J. Tighe Park during the East Region Junior League baseball tournament.
Wernoch racked up two RBIs on three hits for Manchester LL of New Jersey. He singled in the fourth and sixth innings.
Manchester is now 3-1 while Bronco finished at 2-2.
Bronco starting pitcher Andrew Gendreau shut down Manchester as it managed just two hits as Gendreau didn’t allow an earned run, walked one and struck out one during his 4 2/3 innings of work.
Bronco scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut its deficit to seven. A three-run double by Casey Sudbeck sparked the rally.
Ben Huston and Matt Leach each contributed a single and run for Bronco and Tyler Beaton added a single. Jackson Gilmore, Nick Robidoux and Christian Greener each scored a run.
Wernoch looked sharp on the mound. He held Bronco hitless over two innings, allowed no earned runs, walked none and struck out one.
The game was never in doubt after the fifth, as Manchester LL scored seven runs on a two-run double by Gavin Pabst, a sacrifice fly by Ryan Vanderham, three singles, and a walk by Wernoch
Manchester LL piled on three more runs in the top of the sixth. A sacrifice fly scored Patrick Carney for the inning’s first run. That was followed up by Wernoch’s single, plating Dillon Barry.
Five relief pitchers finished off the game for Manchester LL . Patrick Carney faced four batters in relief, while Christian Carney managed to record four outs to aid the victory.