PORT ORCHARD--PacWest won in the loser's bracket twice before bowing out of the Junior Little League baseball state tournament at South Kitsap Western's American Legion Post 30 field last week.
PacWest opened the age 13-14 tournament by taking a 6-2 loss to a tough Upper Valley squad Sunday, July 15 then began the comeback trail through the loser's bracket with a stingy 1-0 win over the Bellevue Thunderbirds Tuesday, July 17. They followed up with a not so well played 7-4 victory over Hazel Dell Wednesday, July 18, earning a day off for Thursday.
But PacWest advanced to play a tough Bonney Lake/Sumner squad Friday afternoon and lost by an identical 7-4 score.
Danny Perkins was near perfect on the mound for PacWest in the Tuesday game against Bellevue.
Perkins scattered three hits and three walks in his seven inning complete game, having one other runner reach on an error. He struck out three in a performance that included seven ground ball outs and nine fly ball outs.
The PacWest hitters, meanwhile, provided the only run they needed in the top of the sixth
.
Matthew Horejsi led off with a single up the middle, advanced on a wild pitch and a Perkins grounder, then scored on a double to deep right field by Christian Stacy. Horejsi scored easily, but Stacy was thrown out trying to stretch his double into a triple.
Perkins then stranded two Thunderbird runners on second and third with two out in the sixth, inducing a rally-ending popup that he fielded himself.
Perkins nailed down the win in the bottom of the seventh.
Andrew Barashkoff popped up to shortstop Horejsi, before Chris Vandermolen doubled to right. Perkins got Thomas Sikkema swinging at a third strike, then Jacob Green fielded a well-hit ball to left to end it.
"It was Perkins' pitching and Christian getting the big hit is all," said PacWest manager John Domenowske of the keys to that game.
Wednesday's do-or-die game against Hazel Dell was on the sloppy side, but it still went into the books as a win.
Hazel Dell
started off by scoring three runs in the top of the first on two hits, two walks, two errors and two wild pitches.
PacWest began its comeback right away with a run in the bottom of the first.
Horejsi singled to left, advanced on a Nic Dammeier grounder back to the pitcher and scored on a base hit by Perkins.
But Perkins was thrown out trying for a double, and Stacy flew out on a hard and deep drive to center field.
PacWest found some relief with five runs in the second that put them up, 6-3.
Tre Bailey and Nathan Gordon doubled back-to-back for one run, then Jordan Welcome hit into an error and stole second base to put runners on second and third.
Jacob Hines doubled to deep center field for two RBI. He went to third on a dropped third strike and Horejsi walked and stole second.
Catcher Nic Dammeier lofted a fly out to center that scored Hines, then Horejsi scored on a wild pitch.
PacWest wound up stranding three runners in the inning, however, and Hazel Dell struck for one run in the third.
Taylor Easterly doubled to center for the visitors, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder's choice ground out
.
PacWest answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth.
Horejsi singled to right, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a double off the base of the left-fence by Perkins.
PacWest then stymied all of Hazel Dell's rally attempts the rest of the way, stranding five runners. The final out came when Bailey snagged a hard line drive.
Hines threw until one out in the sixth for the win and Horejsi came on to finish up.
Bonney Lake/Sumner then ended the season by dealing PacWest the 7-4 loss Friday afternoon.
Majors
PacWest had a short stay in the Major Little League age 10-12 state tournament played in Walla Walla this past weekend.
The Burien and SeaTac-based team opened by taking a 9-5 loss to Woodinville Saturday in Saturday afternoon action at Lions Park before absorbing a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Mercer Island in an 8 a.m. game Sunday.
