Cherry Hill Wins Senior League World Series Opening Game

The following news release comes from the Cherry Hill Atlantic 16U baseball team, which will compete in the Senior League World Series in South Carolina. The team created a GoFundMe to help with travel, lodging and meal costs.

The Cherry Hill Atlantic 16U team has made it to the Senior League World Series in Easley, South Carolina. And Sunday, July 30, they proved they belong there by beating Hawaii, 6-1, in its opening game behind a complete game pitched by Austin Hanni, and timely hitting Luciano Macri and Andrew Bechtel.

“We came to the World Series confident and composed, and that’s exactly how we played,” said team manager Christian Carkeek. “These boys have been playing together for two months and they are playing better and better as a team. Let’s see where it takes us against the best in the world.”

Hanni allowed one run and eight hits, while striking out four and walking none in his seven-inning complete game. Macri hit two doubles with three runs batted in, and Bechtel had two hits and scored twice.

The 15-year-old and 16-year-old boys from Cherry Hill next take on South Carolina on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 4 p.m. The game is scheduled to air on ESPN+. South Carolina has already won two games in the World Series.

The winner of the U.S. bracket of this World Series tournament plays the winner of the International bracket to crown a World Champion. Both brackets are double-elimination tournaments and are being played in Easley. Overall, twelve teams are competing. All the teams are staying at the same hotel near the stadium.

The Cherry Hill team, representing New Jersey, got to the World Series by winning the East Region Tournament in Bangor, Maine. Before that, they won tournaments in Cherry Hill, Wildwood and Old Bridge.

The team has won 15 out of 16 postseason games this summer, powered by strong pitching and a barrage of hitting.

This team is made up of boys from Cherry Hill Atlantic Little League and Cherry Hill American Little League; from Cherry Hill East High School and Cherry Hill West High School. Now they are united, and on a mission to keep winning.

“This is this team’s final tournament,” Carkeek said. “It’s the World Series. And we want to be the World Champions.”

The Senior League World Series is one of seven tournaments sponsored by Little League International.

Team members are Andrew Bechtel, Eric Brown, Brody Connors, Jimmy Farley, Kyle Fisher, Carter Gill, Brody Goldfarb, Mick Goldstein, Cole Haddock, Austin Hanni, Stephen Longo, Luciano Macri, Ryan Moyer, Tristan Perry, Aiden Ryder, Zach Salsbery, Manager Christian Carkeek, Coaches Chandler Dunoff, Ben Keating and Scott Burnham.

Here are highlight reels from the game against Hawaii:

• Game recap
• Pitching by Austin Hanni