Mid-Columbia baseball: Kennewick American advances to Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series

The Kennewick American 10U baseball team is going to the Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series in Jonesboro, Ark.

KA thumped Meridian (Idaho) 16-5 in the Pacific Northwest Regional Tournament title game Saturday in West Linn, Ore., to secure its berth in the World Series, which is scheduled for Aug. 8-15.

Two days after falling to Meridian 21-3 in an American Division pool-play game, KA put on a rout of its own.

Both teams advanced to the title game with one-run semifinal victories earlier Saturday. KA beat the West Linn All-Stars 10-9, while Meridian knocked aside Lynden Baseball 11-10.

In the 9U regional tournament, also in West Linn, Kennewick American fell to Black Hills 11-4 in the semifinals.

AMERICAN LEGION AAA: The Kennewick Outlaws fell to Bellingham Post 7 14-8 in their state second-round game in Bellingham.

Alex Scarver drove in three runs for the Outlaws, who will face Centralia Sobe or the Spokane Northstars in a loser-out game at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Colton Plew, Roger Ingram Jr. (1), Josh Kutzke (4) and Garrett Dixon; Bellingham battery not available. Kennewick highlights: Quentin LaFontaine (K) 2x5, R; Josh Kutzke (K) 1x3, 2R, RBI; Larry DeWitt (K) 3x4, 2R; Dixon (K) 1x3, R, 2 RBIs; Alex Scarver (K) 1x4, 3 RBIs.

OREGON CITY INVITATIONAL: The Southridge AAA Bandits went 2-0 in pool play after their game against NPA Tugs Ford (Tacoma) was rained out in the second inning.

The Bandits are scheduled to face Honda Baseball of Bellevue in the semifinals at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Al Geddes Field.

The Walla Walla Bears, who ended pool play with a 2-1 record after beating AIM of Portland 5-3, will face NPA Tugs Steiger (Tacoma) in a consolation game at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Clackamas Community College.

AMERICAN LEGION AA: The Kennewick Pepsi Cola Dusters and Walla Walla Bruins opened with wins at the state tournament in Olympia.

With Logan Smith driving in three runs, the Dusters defeated Gonzaga Prep 6-1 at Olympia High School.

Hunter Mulderig gave up three hits and fanned nine batters in six innings for the Dusters. They will meet Chehalis at 3 p.m. Sunday at OHS.

Walla Walla began its tournament at Capital High School with a 3-1 victory over LC Black. Joseph Yenney had an RBI single in the second and a solo homer in the fifth to lead Walla Walla’s offense.

Hunter Yensen struck out six, walked one and allowed five hits in his complete-game win for the Bruins, who will face FM Sports Baseball Club at 3 p.m. Sunday at Capital.

Hunter Mulderig, Blake Marboe (7) and Will Koskinen; Cole Earley, Josh Miller (4) and Philip Reynolds. Highlights: Mulderig (K) 6IP-3H-1R-0ER-4BB-9K; Logan Smith (K) 1x3, R, 3 RBIs; Tyler Lloyd (K) 1x4, 2 RBIs; Koskinen (K) 2x4; Jethro Questad (K) 2x3; Seth Kuykendall (GP) 2B; Jeffrey Young (GP) 2B.

Cameron Walker, Jesse Bernal (6) and Cody Anderson; Hunter Yensen and Carter Davis. Highlights: Colton Titus (LC) 2x2; Yensen (WW) 7IP-5H-1R-0ER-1BB-6K; Joseph Yenney (WW) 2x3, HR, 2 RBIs.

AMERICAN LEGION A: The Richland Knights and Kennewick Pepsi Cola Dusters won their openers at the state tournament in Walla Walla, while the Pasco Sun Devils were on the losing end in their first game.

Richland started things off with a 7-2 victory over Lakeside Recovery at Walla Walla Community College.

Caleb Richter gave up four hits and one earned run in six innings, while Kody Bruton closed out the win for Richland.

Richter helped his cause at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs.

Richland will face Whitman County at 4 p.m. Sunday at WWCC.

With their 4-3 victory over Bellingham Post 7 at Borleske Stadium, the Dusters will face the Lewis-Clark Twins at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Also at Borleske, Pasco fell to CDA Lumberman 6-1. Nick Bonnington went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI for the Sun Devils, who will play Sandpoint at 9 a.m. Sunday.

The Walla Walla Griz were scheduled to face Montesano on Saturday night at WWCC.

Jared Jongejan, Riley Binsacca (4), Ryan Kelley (6) and Spencer Lofink; Caleb Richter, Kody Bruton (7) and Erik Obermeyer. Highlights: Richter (R) 6IP-4H-1ER-4K, 3x4, 3B, 3 RBIs; Nolan Howes (R) 2x4, 2B; Quinn Haughton (R) 2x3, RBI; Kyle Corrigan (R) 2x4.

Brady Black, Zeff Rivas (4) and Brayden Childs; Brady Thompson, Justin Bates (7) and Jake Kettell. Highlights: Nick Bonnington (P) 2x3, 3B, R, RBI; Marco Romero (P) 2x2; Levi Haen (C) 2x4, R, 2 RBIs; Thompson (C) 3x3, 2B, 2R, RBI; Michael Dooley (C) 2x4, RBI.

TRIPLE CROWN 14U WORLD SERIES: The Tri-City Athletics were eliminated from bracket play in Steamboat Springs, Colo., with a 6-5 loss to the Brahma Bombers (Utah).

The Athletics led 5-2 entering the seventh, but the Bombers rallied with four runs for the win.

Easton Stevens went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs for the Athletics, while AJ Templeton hit a solo homer.

Athletics highlights: Nick Grade 2x3; Emilio Davila 2x3, 2B; Easton Stevens 3x3, 2 RBIs; AJ Templeton HR; Nathan Mitchell 2x3; Reid Rasmussen 2x3.

LITTLE LEAGUE: The Walla Walla Valley 12s lost to Auburn 13-3 in their state tournament opener in Woodinville.

At 6 p.m. Monday, Walla Walla Valley will face the loser of Sunday’s game between Spokane South and West Valley.

At the 10/11 state tournament Friday night in Vancouver, Richland National Little League lost to Redmond North 10-0 in the semifinals.

Starting pitcher Nate Gray Jr. had two of Richland National’s five hits. Both of Gray’s hits were doubles.

Redmond North’s Wil Woodward pitched all five innings, striking out 11.

Wil Woodward and Gage Schmitt; Nate Gray Jr., Joey Weissenfels (3), Mason Howes (5) and Deacon Boyce, Tyler Bilodeau (3). Highlights: Griffin Miller (ReN) 2x2, HR, 3 RBIs; Tyler Fortney (ReN) 2x2, 2 2Bs; 3 RBIs; Woodward (ReN) 2x3, 3R, 11K; Gray (RiN) 2x3, 2 2Bs.

This story was originally published July 25, 2015 at 10:39 PM with the headline "Mid-Columbia baseball: Kennewick American advances to Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series."