District 9 falls to Southeast in World Series

UPDATE: Bellevue-Mercer Island lost its third game of the Junior Softball World Series on Tuesday, 4-1 to Southeast region representative Southeast Palma Ceia-West Tampa Little League.

Southeast pitcher Nikki Lopez allowed no runs on only one hit in four innings of work, striking out seven in the process. Bellevue-Mercer Island pitcher Sydney Hopper battled throughout and surrendered four runs in a complete-game effort in the circle.

The game was not without controversy, as tournament officials discovered Southeast manager Michael Valdez failed to ensure all of his players received an at-bat in the game, which is required per Little League rules. The Reporter spoke with Tournament Director John Chadwick after the game and Chadwick said Valdez has been suspended for two games. The finding of impropriety will not bear any consequence to the outcome of the game, according to Chadwick.

The combined Bellevue and Mercer Island squad is proving to be rather ungracious hosts. After disposing of Canada 11-5 in a suspended opening game that was finished Monday morning, the District 9 representatives defeated Asia-Pacific squad Bacolod City West Little League 3-0 to move to 2-0 in Pool "A" play.

The game was scoreless until the bottom half of the fourth inning when Kathryn Wood singled and India Gants doubled her home two batters later.

"It was an overall team effort," District 9 manager Scott Hopper said. "Traditionally, the host team hasn't had the greatest performances, but we're trying to come back and change that."

Hopper's squad added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning and it was again Wood who got things started, drawing a walk before coming around to score on an error.

The win moves Bellevue-Mercer Island to 2-0 in Pool "B" play and means the team will have an opportunity to lockup one of the two spots in Friday's semi-final round in its Tuesday morning game against Southeast representative Palma Ceia/West Tampa Little League. That game will take place at 11 a.m. on Field A at Everest Park in Kirkland.

Wood, India Gants and Brooke Baumgartner had the only hits of the day for District 9 and Wood scored two of the three runs. Sydney Hopper got the win, going four innings in the circle and allowing only three hits and no walks.

The combined Bellevue and Mercer Island squad is proving to be rather ungracious hosts. After disposing of Canada 11-5 in a suspended opening game that was finished Monday morning, the District 9 representatives defeated Asia-Pacific squad Bacolod City West Little League 3-0 to move to 2-0 in Pool "A" play.

The game was scoreless until the bottom half of the fourth inning when Kathryn Wood singled and India Gants doubled her home two batters later.

"It was an overall team effort," District 9 manager Scott Hopper said. "Traditionally, the host team hasn't had the greatest performances, but we're trying to come back and change that."

Hopper's squad added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning and it was again Wood who got things started, drawing a walk before coming around to score on an error.

The win moves Bellevue-Mercer Island to 2-0 in Pool "B" play and means the team will have an opportunity to lockup one of the two spots in Friday's semi-final round in its Tuesday morning game against Southeast representative Palma Ceia/West Tampa Little League. That game will take place at 11 a.m. on Field A at Everest Park in Kirkland.

 

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