The 9-10 MI Baseball All-stars beat Kirkland American 11-10 on Monday to complete a perfect 5-0 record and capture Mercer Island's first ever District 9 championship. 

Unlike Saturday, when Kirkland's powerful lineup was unable to get a hit off Michael Bantle, their bats heated up early and often in the championship game, highlighted by 3 home runs, including a solo shot in the top of the first by Kirkland's power hitting shortstop/pitcher, Connor Johnson.  MI took the lead in the bottom of the first, with Michael Bantle and David Emanuels both walking and later scoring on passed balls, while forcing Johnson to throw 37 pitches in the first inning alone.  Kirkland took the lead 3-2 in the top of the third inning, but Mercer Island took it right back in the bottom, when Josh Stenberg and Sam Pugel both singled and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Petrie.  After a 1-2-3 top of the 4th by pitcher Josh Stenberg, the Mercer Island bats came alive in the bottom of the inning, when Kirkland had to pull Johnson from the mound after reaching his pitch count limit.  Noah Hsue led off with a single and scored on Peter Lopes' double, who scored on a single by Bantle, who scored on a Stenberg double.  Anthony Scalzo walked and Michael Petrie batted in a run on a fielder's choice, and then both scored on an Eric Kim single to give the Islanders what appeared to be a confortable lead, 10-3 after 4 innings.   But Kirkland would not go quietly, roaring back in the top of the 5th with 6 runs of their own, highlighted by Jarod Menssen's grand slam home run.  It could have been worse too, but Michael Petrie snagged a line drive to center field to end the inning, leaving the bases loaded and Connor Johnson on deck! 

After MI failed to score in the 5th, Kirkland tied the game in the top of the 6th, on Johnson's 2nd solo home run of the game - but that brief tie was as close as Kirkland would get as their depleted bullpen walked 4 straight batters in the bottom of the 6th, including the game - and championship - winning run, to leave Mercer Island with a scare and a narrow 11-10 victory.   

For the game, Josh Stenberg was 2-3 with a double, scored twice and drove in another. Michael Bantle was also 2-3 with a walk, scored twice and batted in a run.  Eric Kim had a single and 3 RBI, Peter Lopes had an RBI double and scored, Noah Hsue singled and scored, and Sam Pugel singled, walked twice and scored.

For the tournament, Josh Stenberg led the MI hitters with a .643 batting average a .722 on-base percentage, and a slugging percentage of 1.000.  Leadoff hitter Michael Bantle was close behind with a .625 batting average, .667 on-base percentage and .813 slugging percentage.  David Emanuels, Sam Pugel and Peter Lopes all batted .500, with slugging percentages of .714, .938 and 1.000 respectively.  Anthony Scalzo had an on-base percentage of .611, and was one of 3 players to hit home runs, along with Sam Pugel (2) and Eric Kim.  Every player recorded several hits and reached bases multiple times, with outstanding defense and pitching throughout the tournament.   Collectively, Mercer Island outscored their opponents 53-11 in five games, and recorded 3 shutouts, while outhitting their opponents 53-15.  The team's batting average was .465, and their patience at the plate paid off with an outstanding .584 on base percentage.

The 9-10 Islanders play in the state tournament beginning Saturday, July 19th, at 2pm in Vancouver, WA.  Map & State Tournament Bracket. 

Saturday, July 12
Bantle throws 4-inning no-hit shutout to vault 9-10s into Championship Monday 

Michael Bantle pitched a no-hitter to shutout a powerful Kirkland American lineup that had scored 33 runs in their first 3 games, and Josh Stenberg went 3-3, scored twice and knocked in 3 runs on two triples to power MI into Monday's championship game with their 4th straight dominating win, 10-0 in less than 4 innings.  David Emanuels was 2-3 and scored two runs.  Anthony Scalzo scored once and knocked in two more with a double.  Sam Pugel was 1-3 with a double, scored once and batted in another run.  Michael Petrie also doubled and scored. 

Game 4 photos, courtesy Ku-Yuen Hsue.

The MI 9-10s will play Kirkland American again for the District 9 Championship on Monday, at 6pm at Dodd field in Issaquah.

Wednesday, July 9
9-10Us notch another mercy rule shutout, 11-0 over Issaquah

The Mercer Island 9-10 BB All-stars builit on their strong start in the District 9 All-star tournament, beating the solid host team from Issaquah Wednesday night, 11-0 in 5 innings.  Anthony Scalzo recovered from the flu well enough to pitch, and pitch well for 4-2/3 innings, before yielding to Michael Bantle, who recorded the final out when Scalzo hit the 75 pitch limit for 10 year olds.  Scalzo allowed just one base hit and struck out 7 Issaquah would-be hitters.  Bantle led the attack on offense, slapping 3 singles in 4 at bats and scored twice, and made several great plays at shortshop, including going back and leaping up to stab a line drive to rob Issaquah of what would have been a lead-off double in the 2nd.  Josh Stenberg was 2/3 with a double and a walk, scored twice and drove in 4 runs.  Peter Lopes also had a great night, going 2-2 with 2 doubles, one with 2 outs on a full count, which drove in the Islanders' first two runs, and scored once himself.  Anthony Scalzo also had a hit and a walk and drove in a run.  Nathan Gallatin had a hit and a walk and scored twice in two plate apppearances.  Sam Pugel and Michael Petrie each had a hit and a run.  David Emanuels scored following a walk.

Game 3 Photos, courtesy Ku-Yuen Hsue.  

For the tournament, the Islanders have scored in double figures in all 3 games and haven't allowed an earned run, outscoring their opponents a combined 32-1, and outhitting them 36-5.  Michael Bantle, batting leadoff, is 7-12 with a triple and a double.  David Emanuels is 5-8 with 3 doubles and 3 walks.  Sam Pugel is 6-11 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI.  Josh Stenberg is 4-8, with 3 walks and a double.  Anthony Scalzo is also 4-8, with 3 walks, a home run and a double.   Peter Lopes and Nathan Gallatin are both 2-3 and have reached based 4 of 5 times. 

The Islanders play next on Saturday at 9am in the winners bracket final against a strong team from Kirkland American.

Sunday, July 6
9-10 BB all-stars beat Kirland National 10-0

Josh Stenberg pitched 5-2/3 scoreless innings to lead the Islanders to a 10-0 2nd round win over the Kirkland National 9-10 all-stars.  Stenberg allowed just 2 hits and a walk, while striking out 5, before yielding the mound to Anthony Scalzo, who closed out the game with a strikeout.  Eric Kim added a 3-run home run to cap a 6-run 6th inning.  David Emanuels was 3 for 3 with a walk and a run scored and Sam Pugel also stayed hot, going 3 for 4, scoring a run and knocking in a bunch more.  Shortstop Michael Bantle had two hits and scored twice.  Michael Petrie was 2/3 and laid down a nice sacrifice bunt in the 4th.  Stenberg, Scalzo and Andrew Pickles also recorded hits, and the defense was error-free.

The Islanders return to action on Wednesday, in the winners bracket semi-final against the host team from Issaquah LL, at 6pm at Dodd Field in Issaquah. 

More Pictures, courtesy Ku-Yuen Hsue.

Saturday, July 5
9-10 BB All-stars blast 3 home runs en route to 11-1 win in opener

The fireworks didn't end on the 4th, as Sam Pugel and Anthony Scalzo combined for 3 home runs and 9 RBI, including Pugel's towering 240 ft Grand Slam in the 2nd inning, as Mercer Island's 9-10 year old baseball all-stars routed Snoqualmie Valley 11-1 in 4 innings for an easy mercy rule win in game 1 of the 9-10 BB district 9 all-star tournament.  Michael Bantle pitched 3+ solid innings for the win and Josh Stenberg closed out the game in the 4th, together allowing just one hit, one walk and one unearned run.  In addition to Pugel's 2 home runs and 6 RBI, Scalzo was 2-2 with a single, a 3-run HR, a walk, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored; David Emanuels was 2-2 with two doubles, a walk and 2 runs scored; Michael Bantle had a double, triple, RBI and scored once; Josh Stenberg had a single and walk and scored twice; Nathan Gallatin singled and scored and Noah Hsue had a single and a spectacular diving stop and putout at 2nd base.

Pugel getting some love after his Slam!