KUTNO, Poland — The Kaiserslautern Military Community’s 11-to-12-year-old All-Stars rode a six-run fifth inning to a 7-2 victory over defending champion Italy in Monday’s semifinals of Little League Baseball’s European Regional Tournament.

The victory, KMC’s seventh without a loss here, landed the All-Stars in Tuesday’s 3 p.m. championship game, probably against unbeaten Ukraine. Ukraine was leading England 10-1 in the other semifinal at presstime on Monday, according to KMC parent Wayne Daubert.

Italy, Daubert reported, scored an unearned run in the first against KMC starter Matt Zembraski, but Kenny Martin tied the score with a solo homer in the second inning.

Zembraski, who pitched 5 2/3 innings, kept the Italians at bay the rest of the way, and was credited with the win when KMC mounted its decisive rally on a two-run single by Jacob Van Parys, consecutive run-scoring wild pitches and a two-run fielder’s choice off the bat of Dan Tolarchyk.

Italy struck back for a single run in the sixth, and Chris Holba came on for Zembraski to complete a strike out of the final Italy batter, Daubert reported. Zembraski allowed just two hits, struck out 10 and walked none.

At stake in Tuesday’s championship is Europe’s berth in the Little League World Series Aug. 21-30 at Williamsport, Pa.

KMC will be attempting to become the first American military community team to advance to Williamsport since Ramstein earned a berth in 1999.

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