American Legion AAA: Kennewick Outlaws earn spot in Northwest Regionals title game

The Kennewick Outlaws found themselves in a three-run hole after four innings Friday, but with power at the plate and solid pitching, the game was far from over.

Kennewick scored two runs in the fifth, four in the six, then laid the hammer down in the eighth with six runs en route to a 16-8 victory over the Billings (Mont.) Scarlets at the American Legion AAA Northwest Regional Tournament in Cheyenne, Wyo.

“At this stage of the postseason, you are going to face good teams,” Kennewick coach Nate Holdren said. “They had a good lefty (Reese Queen) on the mound who was having a good game. For us to panic in the fourth inning of a nine-inning game this time of year is pointless.”

The Outlaws (53-13), who have won 19 consecutive games, have a guaranteed spot in Sunday’s title game. Kennewick will play Medford at 11 a.m. Saturday. A win over the Mustangs would have the Outlaws needing one win Sunday for the title. Billings will play Bellingham Post 7 at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the winner advancing to the title game.

After Kennewick put a run on the board in the top of the third, the Scarlets answered with four runs in the the bottom half of the inning, with two runs coming off a home run by Lukas Funyak.

A Dillon Plew single drove in two runs in the fifth, and the Outlaws opened a 7-5 lead after six innings, getting a boost from TJ Rea, who smacked a two-run double. Tyler Detloff and Josh Kutzke also drove in runs.

Another run in the seventh made it 8-5, but the fireworks came in the eighth with six runs, highlighted by a two-run double by Andrew Vargas. One run scored on a bases-loaded walk, one on a passed ball, and two more on an error.

Billings managed two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth, but couldn’t put together a big enough rally for the win.

Trent Sellers, who struggled early, settled down to pick up the win, with Fabian Green and Andrew Vargas combining to pitch 3 2/3 innings of relief.

Sellers also went 2-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored. Rea was 3-for-4 with two doubles.

“Right now, we have a lot of confidence,” Holdren said. “We have speed and power and we bunted well today. The kids were relentless. They kept fighting, put the ball in play and made things happen.”

OUTLAWS 21, CAPITALS 0: Gerald Hein pitched a no-hitter with five strikeouts through five innings, and Mason Martin allowed one hit the rest of the way as Kennewick pummeled Boise on Thursday night

It was the second consecutive shellacking Kennewick handed out at the tournament. The Outlaws opened Wednesday with a 16-2 victory over the Kenai (Alaska) Post 20 Twins.

The Outlaws finished with a staggering 22 hits against Boise. Martin was a force at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, four RBIs and two runs scored.

Trent Sellers doubled, tripled and finished with four RBIs. Dillon Plew had four hits and three RBIs, and scored five runs. Andrew Vargas (double, home run) and Garrett Dixon (two doubles) each went 3-for-4.

Kennewick delivered the knockout blow with a 12-run sixth inning.

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 8:59 PM with the headline "American Legion AAA: Kennewick Outlaws earn spot in Northwest Regionals title game."