Rotary (A)

The Danville Nationals continued their magic ride in the VA State Little League tournament on Monday morning, defeating SYA East, top seed in Pool 3.  Coming out of pool play, SYA East had scored 38 runs in three games.  However, Christian Lancaster pitched a complete game shutting down the powerhouse from Fairfax county.  Lancaster received solid defensive support, including an outfield assist from Josh Smith, and a heads-up play from Grant Elliott who tracked down an SYA East runner in a foot-race to the plate.

In the fifth inning, down 0-2, the Nationals managed to grab the lead.  Christian Lancaster reached on a two-out double. Dylan Harraway followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit in half.  SYA then elected to pitch to a red-hot Elliott, who smashed the first pitch deep over the center-field fence for a 3-2 lead.  The Nationals held the SYA big guns at bay in the 5th and 6th inning to secure the win.  

The victory over SYA was especially sweet, as the two teams met in the 2013 VA State Little League 9-10 year old tournament.  That game was a one-sided victory for SYA East, ending by slaughter rule.

The Nationals face Central Loudoun National, top seed in Pool 1, at 4:30 pm Monday.