Gilroy will face Alaska in the Western Regional championship
Sunday, putting the squad of a 11 and 12 year olds just one more
win away from a trip to the Little League Softball World
Series.
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Gilroy will face Alaska in the Western Regional championship Sunday, putting the squad of a 11 and 12 year olds just one more win away from a trip to the Little League Softball World Series.
The Little League All-Stars from Gilroy recorded a dramatic a 2-1 victory over Washington in the semifinals Saturday when Dejah Raoof slid under the tag at home to score the game-winning run. Raoof started off the sixth a single to left field. Jacklyn Cambria advanced Raoof to second with a ground-out to the right side. Karli Martinez followed with a grounder to the third baseman, but her speed forced an overthrow at first. Raoof never hesitated and rounded third to just beat the throw home.
Holly Lam was superb in pitching duties again for Gilroy. She only faced two more batters than the minimum of 18, and she recorded 12 strikeouts while only allowing one hit.
Gilroy got on the scoreboard first in the second inning. Dejah Raoof led of with a single to left, advanced on a wild pitch and Alli Hathaway walked to put two aboard. MacKenzie Mitchell then drilled an RBI single to left field to score Raoof.
Washington came back in the fifth with their only hit, a double in the right-center gap. The runner advanced to third on an overthrow. A hit to right field scored Washington’s lone run, but Brittney Souza managed to throw the runner out at first to limit the damage.
If Gilroy can beat Alaska, which won an earlier contest between the two squads in pool play 6-0, it will be the fourth appearance for the town at the LLSWS in the last five years.
