SFLL Major All-Stars

SFLL Majors Edge PV In 8 Innings

The Sierra Foothill Little League major division All-Star baseball team gave its fans their money’s worth Tuesday night at Nevada City’s Pioneer Park.

Matched-up against Penn Valley in a first round District 11 major division (11-12) game, the SFLL All-Stars worked overtime before pulling out an 8-7 eight inning victory.

“It was a back and forth game,” said SFLL manager Mike Hinrichs. “We were down early but the kids battled back. It was an exciting win.”

The SFLL Stars trailed 4-0 early before finally breaking through in the third inning and turning the game into a see-saw affair the rest of the way.

Trailing 7-4 in the fifth inning, the SFLL team scratched and clawed their way back to trail just 7-6 in the sixth. The SFLL Stars then picked up a big boost when Will Smith stroked a two-out single in the top of the sixth to tie the game and force extra frames.

The two teams both went scoreless in the seventh inning but in the eighth SFLL manufactured a threat which ended up with pinch runner Cole Martinson scoring the eventual winning tally on a passed ball.

SFLL’s pitching was handled by the trio of Justin Boice, Ben Thompson and Sterling Spurling. Spurling picked up the mound win by hurling the final two frames and getting a key game-ending strikeout in the bottom of the 8th with the game-tying run at second base.

Zane McDade turned in a big effort at the plate for the winners as he ripped a pair of doubles and accounted for three RBIs.  Boice also went 2x3 and reached base four times while Spurling was 2x4 with a double.

Hinrichs also praised the play of first baseman Ryan Roblez who had a fine defensive game that included a diving catch and a pick of a one-hopper in the dirt for another out.