MI/TBirds won last night 2-1 behind a complete game from Kathryn Wood.  “Kat” scored a run, had two hits and the game-winning RBI in the 5^th.  Up next is the winner of the Fall City vs. Bellevue East/Issaquah game to be played tonight.

 

The championship game will be held Wednesday, July 15^th at 6pm at Eastlake HS.

 

Top left to bottom right – (Manager) Pat McCarthy, Claire McCarthy, Julia Blumenstein, Kaitlin Sahlinger, India Gants, Sydney Hopper, Sarah Yamaura, (Coach) Leslie Harris, (Bottom row) Sydney Tomlinson, Brooke Baumgartner, Maggie Pana, Kathryn Wood, Megan Page

The Mercer Island 9/10 Little League All Stars went undefeated in the winner's bracket of the District 9 tournament defeating Bellevue East (11-1), Sammamish American (10-6), Bellevue Thunderbird (12-11) and Redmond West (9-5).  This put them in the District 9 Championship game against the winners of the loser's bracket, the Eastlake All Stars.  The Eastlake All Stars defeated Mercer Island twice in close games (9-8 and 4-3) to become the District 9 champions, leaving Mercer Island to take second place.  Redmond West took third place in the tournament.

In the first row (l to r) are Scott Ramseyer, Eric Dreyer, Drew Christofferson, Noah Hsue, David Sims, and Devon Hayes. In the second row are: Justin Myers, Luke Boksem, Kenny Koning, Johnny van der Velden, and Spencer Fuhr.In the back row are coaches:  Dr. Bob Sims and Ed Dreyer.

 

The MI 9-10 All-stars scored 3 in the top of the 1st against the All-stars from Eastlake LL, but ferocious Eastlake hitting and porous MI fielding led to a 9-3 deficit at the end of the first.  MI kept battling however, scoring once each in the 2nd, 4th and 5th innings to chip away at the Eastlake lead behind a strong 75-pitch performance on the mound by reliever Luke Boksem.  Noah Hsue releived in the 5th and also held ELL scoreless.  A clutch 1st pitch, bases-loaded single by Johnny van der Velden with 2 out in the 6th got MI within 1, and the tying run to 3rd on a wild pitch, but a foul tip into the catcher's glove ended the Islanders' threat, forcing a 2nd championship game between the same two teams Tuesday night at 6pm at Hartman Park in Redmond. 

The MI Majors All-stars wasted little time on Sunday, jumping out to an early 9-0 lead in the 1st inning, and never looking back, en route to a 16-1, 4-inning mercy rule win over Sammamish American.  Keegan Ogard and Brandon Lawler combined for 10 strikeouts while allowing just one run on 3 base hits.  Michael Bantle was 3/3 for the game and David Emanuels was 2/3 with 5 RBI, including a Grand Slam HR to break the first inning open.  William Mansfield went 2/4 with 4 RBI, and Max Hibbert was 2/3.  Brandon Lawler added a solo HR to lead off the 2nd inning, his 2nd HR in as many days.   Aidan Plummer walked and doubled.

The team plays next on Wednesday at 6pm in a long awaited showdown with the 2-time defending state champion All-stars from Eastlake LL.

More 12U photos, courtesy David Ogard. 

Link to Tournament Bracket.