Big inning moves Coeur d'Alene into regional semis
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — In a game where neither side had many hits, the Coeur d’Alene Little League all-star team used strong pitching, baserunning and defense to win its opener at the Little League Northwest Regional tournament.
A five-run second inning was all Coeur d’Alene needed to earn a 5-2 win over Bothell, Wash., on Monday morning at Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino, Calif.
“Our kids did a good job running the bases really aggressively, and taking advantage when they made mistakes,” Cd’A manager Robin Franklin said. “We’ve stressed (baserunning) all season and it was the difference for us today.”
Owen Mangini began Coeur d’Alene’s big inning with a leadoff double. Zachary Bell walked and Owen Field singled to load the bases, then Jayson Ross singled to knock in the game’s first run.
Although Cd’A had a baserunner thrown out at home plate on Ross’s hit, the rally continued as Lars Bazier and Travis Usdrowski drew walks. Passed balls allowed Field, Ross, Bazier and Usdrowski to score, putting the Idahoans ahead 5-0 through two innings.
Meanwhile, Coeur d’Alene starting pitcher Cason Miller breezed through the first three innings, allowing only one walk and one hit while striking out six Bothel hitters.
“Cason Miller did a remarkable job of keeping their hitters off-balance,” Franklin said. “And our catcher, Travis Usdrowski, did a great job of keeping the ball in front of him — especially with the amount of room behind home plate.”
In the fourth, Washington pushed across a run as Cayden Christopherson hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a fly out and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Bothel added another run in the fifth, loading the bases and scoring a run on Dominic Wilson’s two-out single. But Kyle Johnson induced a ground ball for a fielder’s choice to keep Coeur d’Alene ahead 5-2, then pitched a shutout sixth inning to seal the victory.
“We were fortunate to get a bye in the first round, so it was really important for us to come out strong today,” Franklin said. “And now we’re in a good spot with our pitching, between the bye and only having to use two pitchers today.”
Miller earned the win with 4.2 innings of work, allowing three hits, two earned runs and two walks while striking out seven. Johnson picked up the save with 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two.
The opening-game win means Coeur d’Alene is off until Thursday, when they face Oregon at noon in a regional semifinal. The Salem, Ore., all-stars held off Billings, Mont., 8-7 in Monday’s second Northwest Regional game.
“We get to relax a bit (Monday), with the kids spending time with their families,” Franklin said. “We’ll regroup (Tuesday) in the dorms and have a fun day with team activities, then get back at it on Wednesday.”
Washington 000 110 — 2 4 1
Idaho 050 00x — 5 5 1
Dominic Wilson, Cayden Christopherson (2), Zach Daniel (2) and Cayden Christopherson, Jacob Zbiegien; Cason Miller, Kyle Johnson (5) and Travis Usdrowski. W — Miller. L — Christopherson. Save — Johnson.
HITS — Wash, Blake Skinner 2, Christopherson, Dominic Wilson; Idaho, Jayson Ross, Miller, Johnson, Owen Mangini, Owen Field. 2B — Skinner 2, Christopherson, Mangini.