By Gerardo Bolong

Energetic pitching and solid defense carried the  9-11 age South Highline National Little League Baseball All Stars to six-inning, 11-1 District 7 tournament win against Pacwest on Sat., June 29, in SeaTac.

The victory qualified the Nationals for a Tues., July 2, winners bracket game at 6 p.m. Pacwest was forced into the treacherous losers bracket.

“We started early and kept it in play,” Nationals manager Kris Kelly said. “The boys played good defense. Everyone”s fresh in the pitching.”

Rylan Keane drew a leadoff walk after a full count to get the ball rolling for SHN in the second inning. Then, a pop fly single off the bat of Jack Kelly positioned Rian Eaton for a two-run single into right field. Jayden Hoang furthered the South Highline effort with an RBI single through the left side.

After a strike out, a Luis Sanchez run-scoring ground out to the third baseman created a 3-0 score. The four-run frame ended on a Nolen Enghusen RBI.

While the South Highline National pitching held Pacwest in check, the offense played add-on baseball on a five-run fifth inning that featured a two RBI single from Kelly, a two RBI base hit from Hoang plus a Jordan Marx RBI.

Leading 9-0, the Nationals added a pair of runs in the sixth inning.

The PW ALL-Stars tried to extend the game in the bottom of the frame. 

Back to back singles by Michael Bainter and Dylan Powers put two runners on base. Christopher Able delivered an RBI single to left field, but that was where the game scoring concluded.

Starting Nationals pitcher Jack Fenton went two and two thirds innings before Sanchez came on relief. Marks closed out the game with a one inning stint on the mound.

Energetic pitching and solid defense carried the  9-11 age South Highline National Little League Baseball All Stars to six-inning, 11-1 District 7 tournament win against Pacwest on Sat., June 29, in SeaTac.

The victory qualified the Nationals for a Tues., July 2, winners bracket game at 6 p.m. Pacwest was forced into the treacherous losers bracket.

“We started early and kept it in play,” Nationals manager Kris Kelly said. “The boys played good defense. Everyone”s fresh in the pitching.”

Rylan Keane drew a leadoff walk after a full count to get the ball rolling for SHN in the second inning. Then, a pop fly single off the bat of Jack Kelly positioned Rian Eaton for a two-run single into right field. Jayden Hoang furthered the South Highline effort with an RBI single through the left side.

After a strike out, a Luis Sanchez run-scoring ground out to the third baseman created a 3-0 score. The four-run frame ended on a Nolen Enghusen RBI.

While the South Highline National pitching held Pacwest in check, the offense played add-on baseball on a five-run fifth inning that featured a two RBI single from Kelly, a two RBI base hit from Hoang plus a Jordan Marx RBI.

Leading 9-0, the Nationals added a pair of runs in the sixth inning.

The PW ALL-Stars tried to extend the game in the bottom of the frame. 

Back to back singles by Michael Bainter and Dylan Powers put two runners on base. Christopher Able delivered an RBI single to left field, but that was where the game scoring concluded.

Starting Nationals pitcher Jack Fenton went two and two thirds innings before Sanchez came on relief. Marks closed out the game with a one inning stint on the mound.