After a year's absence, Capitol City Little League picked up right where it left off.

Capitol City registered three consecutive mercy rule-shortened shutouts, recorded 37 of its 39 defensive outs via strikeout, and outscored three opponents by a 43-0 margin to claim its eighteenth consecutive District of Columbia championship in the major baseball division.

Capitol City clinched the championship with a 10-0 title game victory over Capital Little League at the Fort Lincoln Baseball Complex in Northeast Washington. No District leagues had participated in the 2005 international tournament, but Capitol City's 2006 edition made a familiar trek for the league's all-star teams, advancing to the Mid-Atlantic Region tournament in Bristol, Connecticut.

Gabe Roark led the way for Capitol City, earning a pair of victories on the mound and reaching safely in all twelve of his plate appearances in the tournament. Roark recorded all twelve outs via strikeout and tossed a no-hitter in an opening round victory over the Senators Little League, then struck out eleven batters over four innings in the title game. The left-hander combined with reliever Della Romano on a two-hitter as Capitol City defeated Capital for the second time in the tournament.

Roark scored four times in the championship game, including during a first inning rally in which Capitol City scored three runs on just one base hit. Jacob Polin and Bret Perrin were both hit by pitches to open the game, and Roark's single loaded the bases. All three baserunners scored, as a pair of wild pitches sandwiched around Mark Ossolinski's RBI groundout put Capitol City in control early.

Polin singled in a run in the second inning, and Roark added his second home run of the tournament in the third. Capitol City broke the game open in the fourth, when three baserunners scored on errors and wild pitches, and Ossolinski added another RBI groundout.

Capital stranded five baserunners in the title game, including four in the game's first two innings. Roark retired the final seven batters he faced before Romano struck out the side in the fifth to seal the win.

Capitol City opened the tournament with a 17-0 victory over the Senators. Roark did not allow a ball hit into play, and consecutive extra base hits by Perrin, Roark, and Ossolinski fueled a six-run Capitol City rally in the third. Perrin, the center fielder, had three hits, while catcher Peter Bell and Polin each doubled. Chase Plebani added a pinch hit single for the winners.

Capitol City then moved into the title game with a 16-0 victory over Capital. Ossolinski, a right-hander, struck out eleven batters, walked four, and did not allow a hit in the four inning game.

Roark gave Capitol City an early lead with a first inning home run, and the eventual champions added five runs in the second inning and seven more in the third. Perrin, Romano, George Pulizzi, and Bell each had two hits, while Roark homered, doubled, singled, and reached on an error. For the tournament, Roark was 9-for-11 at the plate, while twice reaching safely on an error and walking once. Seven of his nine hits went for extra bases.

Capital, which had opened the tournament with wins over Ward 8 National Little League and the Ward 7-6th District National all-star team, rebounded from the loss by topping the Senators, 8-2, to earn a championship game rematch with Capitol City.

Follow Capitol City at the Mid-Atlantic Region Tournament -- Click here to view results.

Linescores:

Winner's Bracket Final	1	2	3	4	5	6		R	H	E
Capitol City	1	5	7	3				16	15	0
Capital	0	0	0	0				0	0	5
Elimination Bracket Final
Capital	0	0	0	6	2	0		8	-	-
Senators	0	0	0	0	0	2		2	-	-
Championship Game (Batter-by-Batter recap)
Capitol City	3	1	1	4	1			10	10	0
Capital	0	0	0	0	0			0	2	4

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2004 D.C. Tournament

2007 D.C. Tournament

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Last revision: 06/10/2007