Responding to the challenge
KALE FENTER/Special to the Press Coeur d'Alene Little League player Cason Miller lines a pitch to left field in Friday's Northwest Regional semifinal in San Bernardino, Calif.
KALE FENTER/Special to the Press Members of the Coeur d’Alene Little League shake hands with Bothell following the Northwest Regional semifinal in San Bernardino, Calif. Coeur d’Alene won the game 14-9 to advance to today’s championship game against Salem, Ore., starting at noon on ESPN.
KALE FENTER/Special to the Press Coeur d’Alene shortstop Zach Bell reacts after being hit by a pitch during the second inning of a Northwest Regional semifinal game against Bothell, Wash.
KALE FENTER/Special to the Press Members of the Coeur d’Alene Little League cheering section react during Friday’s Northwest Regional semifinal game in San Bernardino, Calif.
KALE FENTER/Special to the Press Coeur d’Alene Little League manager Robin Franklin, center, talks with his squad during Friday’s Northwest Regional semifinal in San Bernardino, Calif.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — After seeing his team fall behind 3-1 one inning into its Northwest Regional semifinal, Coeur d'Alene Little League manager Robin Franklin's message was pretty clear.
“It's going to take more than three runs.”
Owen Field drove in three runs, two coming on a two-run home run in the sixth inning, as Coeur d'Alene defeated Bothell, Wash., 14-9 to advance to today's Northwest Regional championship game.
“Typically, we start slow like that,” Franklin said. “We'd averaged 10 to 12 runs in the state tournament — so I was pretty excited with how our kids responded.”
Coeur d'Alene will face Salem, Ore., at noon in the title game on ESPN. Today's winner advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., starting on Thursday.
Kody Moyer drove in four runs for Bothell, which lost to Coeur d'Alene 5-2 on Monday.
“We knew they were going to put the ball in play,” said Franklin, whose team finished with four errors in the game. “We knew they were going to hit the ball and just had some mistakes making the play. But we have a pretty resilient offense and were fortunate today.”
Jayson Ross scored three runs and walked twice for Coeur d'Alene in the leadoff spot.
“Jayson has made some big adjustments to his swing,” Franklin said. “He's been putting the ball in play, and when he gets on base, good things happen. He really kickstarts our offense and does a great job with that.”
Cason Miller and Kyle Johnson drove in two runs each for Coeur d'Alene.
Coeur d'Alene 170 033 — 14 13 4
Bothell 310 050 — 9 10 4
Tyler Voorhees, Hudson Kramer (5) and Travis Usdrowski; Cayden Christopherson, Kody Moyer (2) and Jacob Zbiegien, Blake Skinner (4).
HITS: Cd'A — Ross, Bazler 2, Usdrowski, Miller, Johnson 2, Voorhees 2, Mangini 2, Field 2. Bothell — Skinner 2, Christopherson, Wilson 2, Moyer 2, Ledoux, Daniel 2. 2B — Mangini, Field, Ross, Moyer, Wilson. 3B — Johnson. HR — Field.