Bear River 11-year-old All-Star David O'Brien slides into third base safely despite the tag of Grass Valley's Josh Belendez. Bear River posted an 8-5 win in the contest.

July 2, 2009

Bear River Scores Early, Late For Win

The “luck of the draw” in the first round of  the District 11 Area II 11-year-old Little League All-Star baseball tournament  pitted a pair of local squads that both figure have the mettle to go deep into this season’s post season play.

And when the dust had settled following Wednesday night’s action at Western Gateway Park in Penn Valley, give round one to Bear River’s 11s who scratched out an 8-5 win over rival Grass Valley.

The win for Bear River now moves the squad to Friday night’s second round action against Penn Valley whoch will begin at 5:30 p.m.  In tonight’s game at Penn Valley, Sierra Foothills (Colfax-Meadow Vista) plays Nevada City also at 5:30.

Bear River jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two frames by tallying two runs in the first and three more in the second.

Drew Cramer’s two-run  double pushed over David O'Brien and Caden McGowen with Bear River’s first runs before William Last was doubled home by Bear Belding in the second who then scored on a Matt Lopez single.

Grass Valley answered backin the bottom of the second as a Cody Voss hit plated Seth Shepard.

On the mound for Bear River, Ryan Wagner pitched 3 1/3 innings only just three hits and striking out six. Meanwhile, for Grass Valley, Brock Grinnninger pitched four innings allowing four hits and also fanning six.

After both teams were scoreless in the third inining, Grass Valley erupted for three tallies in the the fourth inning with singles by Dakota King, Aaron Fleenor and Josh Belendez doing the RBI damage.

However, with runners on second and third and Bear River clinging to a 5-4 lead, O'Brien came on in relief for Bear River and fanned the last batter to strand the runners on the bags.

Bear River then picked up some insurance runs in the top of the sixth as Tony Bianchi and O'Brien both singled. A passed ball scored William Last running for Bianchi before  Bear Belding followed by connecting on a two-run home run scoring O'Brien ahead of him. Caden McGowen also singled in the inning.

The runs would prove valuable has Austin Butler of Grass Valley crossed the plate in the bottom of the sixth after walking but Bear River’s  Matt Lopez entered on the hill and  closed the door on the mound for the save.

Despite coming out on the winning side, Bear River manager Brian O’Brien noted that the two teams could see each other down the road.