The Kent Little League Major All-Stars team won five consecutive loser-out games at the state tournament in Vancouver before losing to North Bothell in the championship game Saturday.
North Bothell scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to rally from a 3-0 deficit and beat Kent 5-3 to win the state title in the double-elimination tournament for 11-and 12-year-olds. North Bothell advances to San Bernardino, Calif., this week for the Northwest Regionals. The winner of the Northwest Regionals advances to the 65th Little League World Series in Williamasport, Pa.
If Kent had beaten undefeated North Bothell Saturday, it would have needed to beat North Bothell again on Sunday to take the title at the 13-team tournament. Kent finished the tournament at the Fort Vancouver Little League Complex with a 6-2 record.
“We hurt ourselves by dropping into the losers’ bracket right off the bat,” said Kent manager Scott McGuire, whose team lost in the second round, in a phone interview. “I believe we were the best team in the tournament. We had the pitching to play everyday of the week.”
Ben Wadowski smashed a two-run homer as Kent scored three runs in the third against North Bothell. Kent had runners on first and second base with two outs in the sixth before North Bothell retired Bennett Harrison on a high fly to center to end the game.
Kent committed two errors in the fourth to help set up North Bothell’s rally against pitcher Jake Anderson.
“We had the one bad inning but that’s Little League for you,” McGuire said. “It’s too bad. We had Jaylen (Eichler) ready to pitch Sunday and two or three other kids eligible to pitch.”
McGuire said the players took the loss hard.
“The kids are disappointed,” McGuire said. “But I told them if they lose and give 100 percent they can hold their heads up when they walk away. They worked hard. They did everything at full speed.”
Kent beat Eastlake of Sammamish 7-1 on July 29 to advance to the championship game. Shane McGuire struck out six and had a solo home run and a run-scoring double to lead Kent.
Christian Palaita hit a three-run homer and Eichler added a two-run shot as Kent clobbered Salmon Creek of Vancouver 13-2 on July 28 to improve to 5-1 in the tournament.
Eastlake beat Kent 5-1 July 24 in the second round of the tournament. North Bothell defeated Eastlake 6-3 July 27 to earn a berth in the championship game.
In the win over Salmon Creek, Kent scored five runs in the second inning. Palaita’s blast over the ivy-covered wall in left field followed run-scoring singles by McGuire and Wadowski.
McGuire and Cody Faulkner hit RBI-singles in the third. McGuire drove in two more runs with a single in the fifth before Eichler ended the game in five innings (because of the 10-run lead rule) with his two-run homer over the ivy-covered wall.
Eichler started at pitcher and allowed just one hit with two strikeouts. Palaita struck out three and Travis Hansen fanned two in relief of Eichler.
“Salmon Creek had a big crowd there,” Scott McGuire said. “They were lining the fences and even sitting in our area. It was a lot of fun.”
Kent blanked Alderwood of Lynnwood 2-0 July 27 for its third straight win in the losers’ bracket.
Faulkner threw five innings and allowed just two hits with eight strikeouts and one walk in the win over Alderwood.
“Cody pitched a great game,” Scott McGuire said. “He keeps them off balance with a popping fastball and two speeds on his curveball.”
Relievers Eichler and Palaita closed out the game for Kent.
The game was scoreless until the fourth when Harrison doubled home Hansen, who had singled. Kent added a run in the fifth when Wadowski doubled and scored on a double by Palaita.
Kent played strong defense to help blank Alderwood, including two outstanding plays by Hansen in center field.
“Travis made two big catches,” McGuire said. “One was over his head. The other one the ball was in short behind second and he came in at full speed and caught it. That was a big out. You could tell they (Alderwood) were deflated after that.”
After dropping into the losers’ bracket early in the week, a title seemed far away for Kent.
“It’s been a long journey,” McGuire said.
Kent whipped Central Vancouver 10-0 to advance to the game against Alderwood.
Wadowksi was 2 for 3 with a grand slam and six RBIs to lead Kent. Anderson threw a three-hitter with five strikeouts as Kent won in five innings because of the 10-run rule.
Wadowski hit a grand slam in the third for Kent’s first runs. Eichler added a solo homer later in the game.
Kent bounced back from an earlier loss to beat Asotin County 2-1 in a loser-out game July 25.
Palaita hit a run-scoring single in the first inning and a solo homer in the fourth to lead Kent to the victory.
Kent’s Wadowski struck out six and gave up just two hits. Anderson relieved Wadowski in the sixth and closed out the game with two strikeouts.
Kent beat Chehalis 8-0 in a first-round game July 23 but then lost to Eastlake of Sammamish 5-1 on July 24 to drop into the losers’ bracket.
Kent led Eastlake 1-0 in the second inning but finished with only two hits. Kent also committed three errors.
“Their kid threw a great game,” McGuire said. “It was one of those games where we didn’t hit. And it’s unlike us to have a few errors.”
Shane McGuire took the loss for Kent. He struck out nine and didn’t give up an earned run.
In the win over Chehalis, McGuire led off the game with a home run and Palaita smashed a three-run homer in the first inning. Eichler pitched the win. He allowed just one hit and struck out four.
Little League Majors State Tournament
12-year-old All-Stars at Vancouver
Kent results
July 23
Kent 8, Chehalis 0
July 24
Eastlake 5, Kent 1
July 25
Kent 2, Asotin County 1 (loser out)
July 26
Kent 10, Central Vancouver 0 (loser out)
July 27
Kent 2, Alderwood 0 (loser out)
July 28
Kent 13, Salmon Creek 2 (loser out)
July 29
Kent 7, Eastlake 1 (loser out)
July 30
North Bothell 5, Kent 3 (loser out, winner champion)
KENT ROSTER: Jacob Anderson, Nathan Arreola, Jaylen Eichler, Cody Faulkner, Travis Hansen, Bennett Harrison, Noah Holmes, Shane McGuire, Christian Palaita, Grant Stockman, and Benjamin Wadowski. Manager: Scott McGuire
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