Bel-West, Eastlake meet today in winner-take-all District 9 final
Published 10:30 am Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Elliot Carney carried a perfect game into the fourth inning against Bellevue West and the Eastlake Little League offense pounded out 13 runs on 12 base hits to stave off elimination and send both teams to a 4 p.m. winner-take-all rematch today at Hartman Park in Redmond.
Carney needed only 43 pitches to work a complete game, stifling the Bel-West bats all afternoon. He did not run a two-ball count to a hitter until the final frame and would have been perfect if not for Zachary Rossman’s single to begin the fourth inning. Rossman’s single and a flyout to centerfield were the only two balls to leave the infield against Carney.
While its starting pitcher took care of things on the mound, the Eastlake bats erupted early and often. With two outs in the first inning, cleanup hitter Mark Whitley sent a two-run home run over the fence in right centerfield to get his team on the board.
In the second, Eastlake continued their offensive onslaught, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring five runs before an out was recorded. Eastlake tacked on four more in their half of the third, putting the mercy rule in effect and cruising to the victory and setting up tonight’s rematch.
Tonight’s winner will take the District 9 title and will continue on to Fort Vancouver Little League Complex for the Majors State Tournament, which begins on July 23.
Game Notes
Of Eastlake’s 12 hits, only four went for extra bases…One of those was a home run from Carney, which ended up well beyond the 200 foot fence at Hartman and ended up on Northeast 104th Street…Carney struck out two and did not allow a walk on the mound…Jack Enger started the game for Bel-West, but exited after throwing only 20 pitches, meaning he is eligible to throw again today…The winner of tonight’s game and District 9 champion will face the winner from District 7 in the opening round of the State Tournament at 3 p.m. on the South Field at Fort Vancouver Little League Complex.
