CONSTANTINE – The Niles Senior All-Stars advanced to the state tournament at South Portage this weekend after winning the Michigan District 15 Little League Sectional.

The All-Stars won two out of three games against Ypsilanti to advance to the state tournament.

Niles won the opening game of the Sectional 11-1, but Ypsilanti rallied to take the second game 9-3.

The All-Stars then punched their ticket to the next round with a 12-4 route of Ypsilanti.
In the championship game, Niles scored seven runs in the second inning to blow open the game. The All-Stars would never look back.

Niles added four runs in the third inning and 1 run in the fourth to complete its scoring.
In the pivotal second inning, Dustin Bell had a pair of doubles, Riley Robson had a single, Jeremy Zimmerman had a single, Zack Fillwock had a double and Kelvin Tweedy also had a single.

Bell and Fillwock both finished with two hits to lead the All-Stars offfensively.
Tweedy struck out nine and tossed a four-hitter to earn the victory for Niles.

In the opening game of the Sectional, Niles did all of its offensive damage in the fourth and fifth innings.

The All-Stars scored five runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a home run by Bell and a double by John Carey.

Brian Exner and Robson also had hits in the frame.

In the fifth inning, Niles scored six runs.

Rashad Harris, Tyler Fisher and Fillwock all had singles.

Bell picked up the win, tossing a two-hitter with three strikeouts.

In Niles’ loss to Ypsilanti, Harris had two hits, as did Carey. Robson had a double for Niles.

The All-Stars will now begin play in the state tournament on Friday at South Portage near Kalamazoo.