Bear River Astro Robbie Lopez is shown heading around the bases in earlier District 11 Little League Tournament of Champions action. Saturday night Lopez and his Astros teammates posted a 15-1 win over the Tri-City Cardinals to win the opening game of the district's best of three championship series. obfoto.com

June 27, 2009

Big win for Bear River Astros in title series opener

The Bear River Astros defeated the Tri-City Cardinals, 15-1, Saturday night at Beggs Field in Auburn to win the first game of the District 11 Little League major division Tournament of Champions championship series.

Game two of the series will be played tonight at 7 p.m. at Bear River Little League Park.

A third game if necessary is scheduled for Auburn at 7 p.m. on Monday.

The Astros had a bevy of standouts as Brett Solomon had a stellar performance by pitching 4 strong innings in which he kept the potent Tri-City offense off balance by allowing just four hits and one run while fanning three and giving up just one walk.

With the bat, the Astros kept up their recent hot hitting by scoring twice in the opening inning and then erupting for nine more tallies in the second inning.

In the first iinning, Solomon got things started with a single and then scored on a
double by Kyle Soria (3x3 two doubles).

Robbie Hildebrand then singled home Soria for the early 2-0 lead.

The second inning was fueled by big RBI hits from Kyle
Soria and Matt Lopez who each singled with bases loaded and Franz Shimek who
(2x2 double) delivered a bases loaded double scoring two more runs.

The Astros then picked up three additional runs in the 3rd inning in which Tyler Toft and Franz Shimek each singled in runs.

Matt Lopez doubled home Kyle Soria for the lone Astros run in the 4th inning. Other key contributors at the plate were Riley Pierce 1x2 2-RBI's and Matt Lopez 2x4.

Defensively the Astros picked up a double play in the 3rd inning and had outstanding outfield play from Riley Pierce and Ryan Ferrell each making nice grabs in the outfield
for outs.