Blackwood 10-11 Team Advances to Championship

Blackwood Kiwanis Little League's 10-11 All-Stars will play for the District 14 championship following Sunday night's 9-6 victory over crosstown rival Erial.

Blackwood will face the winner of the Erial-Audubon matchup Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Barrington in the championship round.

Blackwood jumped out to an early 6-0 lead Sunday night, but, according to Blackwood manager Ben Zanghi, "A gritty Erial team would not go away quietly."

Erial stormed back to make it 7-5 after four innings.

Zanghi credited Josh Rosa with saving the game for Blackwood (3-0).

Rosa made a diving catch in left field to end an Erial rally in the fifth inning. A frame earlier, he laid down a "beautiful bunt" that, with a throwing error at first, plated Bobby Mullan from second base for an insurance run.

Dylan Maria got the win for Blackwood. He's 2-0 now in District 14 play, and has four doubles and four triples after smacking three doubles Sunday.

Unbeaten Blackwood can win the 10-11 District 14 championship with a win Wednesday night. Erial or Audubon—both of which have one loss already—would have to win two games to win the district title.