Behind a solid pitching performance from Campbell Miller and Sam James, and an outstanding night at the plate from the bottom of the order, the McIntire League’s Elks Club reeled in a City Little League championship for the first time since 2003 with its 11-5 win over Korner Restaurant.
“The nice part was that the bottom of our lineup hit really well,” said Elks coach Chris Miller. “It was great to see that from a 9-year old, 10-year old and an 11-year old.”
Braxton Miller, Campbell Miller and Mathew Seidel made up the bottom third of the order and managed to bring in eight of the teams 11 runs.
Offensively, Korner started strong as Carter Lee led off the game with a solo shot to left field and Josh Canipe took home on a passed ball after reaching base on a walk.
But Elks answered right back as Jonathan White drove in a pair of runners on a double to highlight a 3-run bottom half of the first.
Korner tied the contest back up in the top of the second when a Canipe ground-out brought in a runner. However, the Elks came on strong to reclaim the lead again in the next half of the inning with five runs thanks to a bases loaded walk and an RBI single and 3-run triple from Braxton Miller.
The Elks went into cruise control from there on out as Campbell Miller surrendered just one more run and Sam James came on in relief and was only tagged for one score.
“Campbell was a little nervous coming in but I thought he settled in after the second,” Chris Miller said. “Then Sam came in and he was nervous too and gave up a couple of walks, but was able to get past that too.”
After the Elks doubled its 3-run lead to six in the bottom of the fifth, Korner threatened to rally in the top of the fifth with a pair of runners. However, with two outs, James zeroed in and ended the game with a strikeout.
