Announcement
MI Majors BB All-stars beat Paso 3-2 in 7 innings to win state Little League championship & advance to NW Regionals
Michael Bantle's single in the bottom of the 7th inning to score Aidan Plummer for the winning run capped the 3rd come-from-behind-win in a row to power Mercer Island's 11-12 All-stars to the Washington State Little League Baseball championship and a berth in the Northwest Regional tournament in San Bernardino, CA, Aug. 7-15, for a chance to play in the 2009 Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.
L-R: Manager Steve Stenberg, David Emanuels, Brandon Lawler, Keegan Ogard, Josh Stenberg, Max Hibbert, William Mansfield, Michael Bantle, Nick Taylor, Coach Brock Mansfield, Anthony Scalzo, Aidan Plummer, Assistant Coach Anne Emanuels, and Sam Pugel.
Keegan Ogard pitched 4-2/3s scoreless innings, striking out 8, while matching Pasco's ace pitch-for-pitch, before hitting his 85-pitch limit with 2 outs in the top of the 5th inning, before Pasco singled in 2 unearned runs to take a 2-0 lead. But in the bottom of the 6th, Ogard tied it with a huge 2-run Home Run to give Mercer Island new life:
Gutsy relief pitching by Brandon Lawler in the 5th, 6th and 7th held Pasco at 2 runs and setup Michael Bantle's RBI single to score Aidan Plummer for another dramatic, extra-innings win for Mercer Island in the bottom of the 7th:
For the game, Ogard allowed no runs on 2 hits in 4-2/3's innings; Brandon Lawler allowed no earned runs on 2 hits in 2-1/3 innings, and earned the win in relief. Ogard was 2/3 with a home run and 2 RBI; Bantle singled in the game-winning run; Aidan Plummer walked twice and scored the game winning run; Sam Pugel doubled; William Mansfield walked and scored; and Max Hibbert and Josh Stenberg also singled in the game.
Mercer Island now advances to the Little League Norhwest Regional tournament in San Bernardino, CA, and will play Parrish Little League, Oregon state champions, on Saturday, Aug. 8th, at 7:30pm.
The NW regional championship game will be played on Saturday, Aug. 15th, and will be broadcast live on ESPN.
