JOHNSON CITY -- The Vestal 10-11 Little League all-stars rolled to a pair of victories Tuesday and Wednesday to earn a spot in the New York State Section 2 championship game Friday at Don Dutter Field at Northside Park.
Vestal, which won the District 7 title earlier this month to advance to the Section 2 event, kicked off the double-elimination tourney with a 16-5 victory over District 6 champion Horseheads on Tuesday in a game that was shortened to four innings due to the mercy rule.
Matthew Carr went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the second inning to lead Vestal, which scored at least two runs in every inning. Vestal starter Colin Hughes went three innings to earn the win, and relievers Ritchie Tompkins and Stephen Tibensky combined to pitch a scoreless inning in relief.
The next day, Vestal fell behind 2-0 in the first frame against District 8 champion Fayetteville-Manlius but rallied back in a big way to record a 16-4 victory in five innings.
Steven Laurie had a ground-rule double to cap off a six-run fifth inning for Vestal, which also scored six runs in the third inning. Tibensky also went the distance and held F-M to four runs to earn the win for Vestal.
Vestal will face Horseheads at 7 p.m. in Friday's title game. Horseheads defeated Fayetteville-Manlius, 11-7, in the losers' bracket final Thursday night.
The winner of the championship game will earn a spot in the New York State Tournament, which is scheduled for Aug. 6-12 in Pine Bush.