BF Yankees poised for perfection
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July 3, 2013 |
After a perfect 19-0 season, the Bonners Ferry
Yankees U-13 Little League baseball team has
continued their streak in tournament play, and
if they pull off another win today against the
Hayden All Stars, they'll be the undisputed champs
in a tough new league.
That game takes place at 3 p.m. today at
Croffoot Park in Hayden; if the Yankees win,
they'll be going to the state tournament in
Boise; if they suffer their first loss of the
season, a rematch against the Angels will take
place at about 6 p.m.
The Yankees opened tournament play against the
All Stars June 28, taking a close 8-7 win.
The teams were tied seven-all going into the
seventh and final inning, and Bonners Ferry led
the inning off with a line-drive single into
right field by Kendall Stone. Pacen Pluid
stepped in and pinch ran for Stone, Anthony
Bennett walked.
Seth Bateman popped a fly to third, taking the
first out and letting Pluid steal third.
Brady Bateman smashed a game-winning double down
the right field line, scoring Pluid.
Bateman went 3-5, with four RBIs, including a
walk-off double, Bennett went 2-2, with two
walks and two runs scored, Pluid went 1-1 and
scored, Raul Rodriguez went 2-2 with two RBIs
and two walks and Stone went 1-2 with a walk and
two runs scored.
On the mound, Jesse Dunham pitched four complete
innings, giving up five hits, four runs with
three earned, and three strikeouts. Tyrone
Larson pitched 1.2 innings in relief, giving up
one hit and striking out two for the win.
On Monday, the Yankees returned to Hayden to
face the Post Falls Orange in the semi finals,
where Tyrone Larson had two hits, including the
game winner with two outs, driving in two
runners in the bottom of the seventh for the 5-4
victory.
The league, formed just this year in Hayden
Lake, is comprised of nine teams, including
three Hayden teams, two from Coeur d'Alene, two
from Post Falls and one from Newport.
In their tournament games, the Yankees faced All
Star Teams, comprised of the best players from
each city's teams.
Yankees coach Cal Bateman said he doesn't really
like to talk the team up as he feels it's
boastful, but he admitted that this team is
special and each player; Brady Bateman, Seth
Bateman, Jesse Dunham, Trey Flint, Tyrone
Larson, Raul Rodriguez, Kendall Stone, Anthony
Bennett, Pacen Pluid and Kobe Norwood, all 13
except for Seth Bateman, who is 12, deserve a
ton of credit for their hard work and
determination.
If they win tonight, be it one one game or two,
they'll play in Boise for the state title; a win
there will send them to Irvine, California, to
compete in the Western Regionals July 19. A win
there would send them to the Intermediate 50-70
World Series July 30 in Livermore, California.
Of course, the Yankees didn't do everything
by themselves, they had a lot of help from the
community, and they all send out thanks to their
fans and those who helped with donations to
enable them to compete; Riverside Auto,
Huckleberry Variety, Pace-Kerby, Sam and Marla
Carey, JB's Tire, AJ's Lanes, Panhandle State
Bank, Baby-Go-Round, Stove Corral, the Kootenai
River Inn, the Boundary County Baseball
Association,, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho,
Boundary Tractor, Huckleberry Variety,
North Side Bed and Breakfast, Northern
Treasures, Janice Snider and a friendly Canadian
stranger on the street. |
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