Soundview's pitching was reason enough for them to overcome an early error and propel this Northeast Tacoma/Browns Point area charter to the championship game of the Little League District 10 Junior All Stars, after its 3-2 win over Federal Way American in the winner's bracket final at Brannon Park in Auburn Wednesday, July 2.

Soundview moves to the championship game, being in the driver's seat for going to state. Whoever makes it out of the loser's bracket, be it American, Kent, or Bonney Lake, will have to have to beat Soundview twice to get to state.

"State's in Mount Vernon," said SV manager Mike Clark. "But we are not thinking about that. We are not there yet."

Close though. Even if the Soundview Juniors (13 year olds) were to lose in the championship played Saturday, July 5, the next game after that would be with this same pitcher, Adam Lensegrav, and he sure has shown he can pitch well. Two wins in two starts in this district Juniors tourney is all well and good to support that fact.

But, for Soundview the team, things did not look so good early on after a couple infield errors, including an overthrow of third base that allowed a run to score.

"Our defense was shaky in the beginning, but it was good after that," said Clark.

SV took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a Max Malthesen lead-off walk and a Lensegrav RBI double.

So Lensegrav, who threw an economical 80 pitches in seven innings in this one and in a previous start, a 4-1 win over Bonney Lake, was strong, too. He proved he could also hit.

"He's pitched two great complete games for us. He's consistent, he throws strikes," said Clark. "And he helps us on our offense. He is one of our better hitters."

After American scored in the bottom of the second on a Sam Potts single and a Grant Burpee RBI single, which included a SV catching error, it was 1-1. Then, in the bottom of the third, American took the lead, 2-1, thanks to a Kenneth Nilles single and errors by SV trying to get him out stealing third and doing an overthrow.

SV rallied back to take the lead back again, 3-2, on a Nick Rosato walk and an Austen Brand two-RBI double into left field. That would be the game winner.

"Austen is one of our best players," said Clark. "He is a great hitter, gets in a lot of runs for us and he steals bases. He has accuracy and a strong arm."

Lenegrav looked near flawless out there for Soundview. When American needed to score a run in the sixth, with time around only one more inning for runs to keep this game going on, they could not do it. Besides a single by Robby Gibbons into left field with one out, American could not do anything more, as Lensegrav's defense did a fine job, including in the sixth defensively was a center field grab of a high, hard hit ball and a nice play running into left field by the third baseman.

"My location is good," said Lensegrav of what's contributed to his success, adding, "My defense has helped me out so much, too."

Then in the seventh inning, again, it was American needing to do something to score at least one run to keep this thing going. They could not get anything off Lensegrav, who got batter Burpee to strike out. Game over.

"I couldn't do anything at the plate," said Burpee. "A bunch of the pressure got to me."

American manager Ben Morgan spoke of an error or two in the game, like an outfielde misjudging of the ball.

"I don't know if it was the sun. It went off the top of his glove," said Morgan.

And that runner ended up scoring, he added.

Morgan was talking to his players after the game.

"Can we still win this," he asked.

"Yes," the players said in unison.

"Good," he said. "You guys just had an off day. Everyone has an off game now and then. Bring this game next time and it will hurt us. It's happened. Let's forget about it. Make sure next time you bring it (the good game)."

Morgan denied his team was out of it despite this loss and shove into the loser's bracket where they had to win another game before having to beat Soundview twice in order to make it to state.

"We are not out of it," said Morgan. "This is a good team. They are still in it."

This Soundview team is good, too, so even if Lensegrav does not have a good game on the mound, or someone else, then others are there to pick up the slack, according to Clark.

"We have six pitchers," said Clark. "And so far we have only used three."

Soundview got a win from Lensegrav already mentioned over Bonney Lake, but they also got a win in a wild one over Kent, 13-12.

"We won that on a balk call, runner on third, bottom of the seventh," said Clark. "We survived."

Ian Clark, Mike's son, said that his team has all the necessities for success.

"We are the best team out there," said Clark. "In all aspects of the game."

This team has a lot of Majors players (11 and 12 age group) that moved up to this Juniors team this year for Soundview, so it is young. But it has a solid enough base of extreme talent returning. Though low in number, it's a good dose of experience for the younger players like Lensegrav to follow.