By Anthony Bosco
The eight tournaments in Little League District 27 are rapidly coming to a close, with more than half having already concluded.
District 27 includes Little Leagues from the southern half of Queens, including Ridgewood-Glendale-Middle Village-Maspeth, Ozone-Howard, St. Albans, Rockaway, Rosedale, Broad Channel-Jamaica Bay, Cambria Heights-Laurelton, Rochdale Village, Briarwood-Jamaica, Jamaica Estates-Holliswood, Rich Haven and Jewish Community.
Monday night saw Ozone-Howard capture the Major Division (11- and 12-year-olds) with a 2-1 win over Rosedale in the decisive game. Rosedale had defeated Rockaway to emerge from the loser’s bracket, but could not force a second game in the double-elimination tournament, going down to defeat in Far Rockaway.
Ozone-Howard also locked up the Junior Division (13- and 14-year-olds) championship Monday with a dominant win over Rockaway, invoking the mercy rule en route to a 17-0 win.
The two wins gave the Ozone-Howard Little League its second and third district championships, as the league also captured the Major Division softball crown on July 11 with an 8-7 win over RGMVM.
The league was in position to lock up a fourth crown if it was able to defeat Briarwood-Jamaica Little League either Tuesday or Wednesday in the Junior Division finals. Briarwood-Jamaica emerged from the loser’s bracket to advance to the championship with a win over RGMVM.
In the two remaining baseball divisions, Rockaway defeated RGMVM, 14-4, to advance to the finals in the Minor Division (9- and 10-year-olds), while RGMVM was bumped down to the loser’s bracket to play Briarwood-Jamaica. The two teams were slated to lock horns Tuesday night for the right to play Rockaway in the championship Friday night at Juniper Valley Park.
The 15- and 16-year-old Senior Division wrapped up play Sunday, as Briarwood-Jamaica emerged from the loser’s bracket to take two from previously unbeaten Rochdale and lay claim to the championship banner.
In softball, Ozone Howard missed a chance to pick up a possible fifth banner, losing in the championship to RGMVM in the Senior Division, while four teams, Ozone-Howard, RGMVM, Broad Channel and Yorkville remained alive in the Minor Division.
All the winners of district championships earn the right advance to play in the sectionals against district champions from throughout the Metropolitan area.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130.
