SFLL Giants, Nevada City Red Sox
Advance in Tournament of Champions
The field was reduced to three in District 11 Little League Area II Tournament of Champions play Saturday night as the Sierra Foothills Giants and the Nevada City Red Sox both chalked up impressive victories.
In the opening game of the night, the Red Sox turned in another sterling effort as the Nevada City club drubbed the Grass Valley Angels, 11-1.
The win for the Sox, Nevada City’s “B” team, advances the squad to Monday night’s winner’s bracket semi-final game against the Bear River Giants. First pitch is slated at Bear River Little League Park for 7 p.m.
In Saturday’s nightcap, Sierra Foothills pitcher Roger Lillie pitched four innings, fanned nine batters and also walloped a home run as the Giants handled the Bear River Red Sox, 10-3.
The triumph for the SFLL Giants vaults the Colfax-based squad into Tuesday night’s Area II 7 p.m. championship game against the winner of Monday’s Nevada City Red Sox-Bear River Giants game.
The Area II winner will then meet the Area I winner in a best of three game series starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 28 at Bear River. Game two in the series will be played on Friday at 7 p.m at Lincoln.
If a third game is necessary, it will be played Saturday, June 30 at Bear River starting at 7 p.m.
Here’s a recap of Saturday’s action:
SFLL Giants 10 Bear River Red Sox 3
Lillie’s solid pitching highlighted by his nine strikeouts sparked the Giants. Giants manager Ron Fowler also cited the strong relief work of Michael Lerner in the fifth inning and Dan Cassilagio in the sixth as also vital in the victory.
Lillie aided his own cause with a home run in the fifth frame and also finished with three runs batted in. Chris Walton also added two more RBIs for the winners.
On defense, SFLL catcher Brett Fowler called a heady game behind the plate.
Nevada City Red Sox 11 Grass Valley Angels 1
In Saturday’s opener, the three-armed pitching staff of Skyler Carpenter, Charlie Stevens and Rob Wood Jr. teamed to throw a one-hitter at the Angels and move the Sox into the semi-finals.
“We were watching pitch counts and things worked out well for us,” said Rob Wood Sr., manager of the Sox. “In the first inning Skyler only threw five pitches so that really helped.”
After the quick early inning, the Red Sox’ bats went to work and quickly turned the game into a runaway.
Carpenter and Wood Jr. also helped themselves out at the plate as Carpenter went 2x3 with a triple and drove in three runs while Wood was 2x3 which included a double and also drove in three more tallies.
Other big sticks for the winners included Alex Charvoz who went 2x3 with three RBIs and Evan Kittle and Cameron Townsend who each contributed a double.