Mahir Salahuddin struck out 16 and helped the Barrington Little League 12U Majors Division baseball team defeat Newport 6-1 in a winner’s bracket game on Monday, July 1.

Salahuddin allowed just three hits and one run in the six-inning performance. Salahuddin walked one Newport batter. 

The win catapults Barrington into the District 2 Championship game on July 12 at Sherwood Field. Barrington will play the winner of the Newport vs. Bristol/Warren game. 

Barrington jumped ahead 5-0 in the fourth inning. Xavier Maddox led off with a single to left-centerfield, Austin Daley was hit by a pitch, and Ben Claussen drew a walk to load the bases. 

Maddox scored on a passed ball, and Daley scored on the same play when the Newport catcher tried to throw him out at third, but the ball got away. 

Salahuddin drew an intentional walk and Fluet also walked. Another passed ball allowed Claussen to score from third, pushing the score to 3-0 Barrington.

Newport changed pitchers, but the reliever did not fare much better as Seb Hyams slapped a single into right field, scoring Salahuddin and Fluet. 

Salahuddin accounted for 16 of the 18 outs in the game. The other two came on a nice play by third baseman Will Coutant to throw out a runner at first. The other out was a bunt down the first baseline that Salahuddin handled himself.