July 9, 2007

It’s Grass Valley vs. Bear River – again

with Area II junior title at stake tonight

The Grass Valley and Bear River Little League’s Jr. Division All-Stars (ages 13-14) are getting to know each other pretty well over the last few days.

In what has boiled down to a winner-take-all scenario, Grass Valley and Bear River will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at Condon Park in Grass Valley to decide the District 11 Area II championship.

Both teams have one loss apiece in the double elimination tournament.

Last Friday Grass Valley handed Bear River its first loss of the post season by using Tyler Francl’s three-run home run in the 5th inning as the difference in an 8-7 victory.

However, after notching a 6-3 win over Nevada City on Saturday night, Bear River made it two straight by handing Grass Valley a 12-5 setback Monday night.

Tonight’s Area II title game winner will then have its back to the wall when District 11 Jr. Championship Series play opens Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Tri-City Little League Park in Rocklin.

That’s because Rocklin went undefeated in winning the Area I title and needs to just win one game to grab the District title. Rocklin trimmed Auburn, 6-4, to take the Area I title.

Grass Valley manager Mark Maves hopes his team can regain the form it showed in winning its first two tournament games.

Top batwork from Francl, Damon Bell, Sammy Dardick and Caden Maves have supplied the Grass Valley squad with its offensive punch so far in the post season.

Meanwhile, on the mound, Francl, Dardick and Richie Osborne have been holding down the pitching duties.