Capitol All-Stars Bow out after Thrilling 2-game series against Centralia Little League

A bit late to wrap up Capitol’s quest for the District 3 Little League All-Star crown (heck i’ve been moving, cut me some slack eh) … but suffice to say, twas was a thrilling finish with a 2 game do or die series against Centralia though the final outcome wasn’t ideal.

In the double elimination tournament at Nelson Field in Montesano, Capitol needed to beat Centralia twice while the hitherto undefeated Centralia only needed to come out on top once which they did in the second game (Friday) by a score of 9-5 exacting a wee bit of revenge for the 10-3 drubbing Capitol handed them on Thursday.

Thanks for Chronline for the newspaper coverage (though obviously leaning Centralia’s way) and KMNT (a Centralia country music station) who served up play by play of the games, and big thanks for Cosmo at Zhonka for the proxy connection allowing me actually listen to the broadcast across the border. Of course big thanks to Capitol’s coaches (I won’t name them here so i don’t seal their google juice) and mostly the earnest and talented lads of the squad, many of whom i’ve watched for years as they’ve grown from lil scrubs to hard-hitting, skilled dudes.

Thanks for the thrills kids (and saving me the trip to Williamsport, PA for the LLWS ;-)).

photographer unknown

Here’s a few highlights from the 7/13/07 Chronicle article of how it went down from Sports Editor Sam Bakotich’s (obviously homeristic) “Centralia’s District Title Delayed – Capitol Drubs Unbeaten Team, Forcing Second Title Game“:

Capitol avenged an earlier loss to Centralia with a surprisingly easy 10-3 pasting of its nemesis in the championship round of the District III 11-12 Majors Little League All-Star Tournament at Nelson Field Thursday night.Centralia beat Capitol 9-5 Tuesday to put the Olympia squad in the losers bracket. And then Capitol knocked off Chehalis Wednesday to earn a shot at unbeaten Centralia.

But on Thursday night it was all Capitol in the first title showdown, forcing a winner-take-all championship tonight at 6, back at Nelson Field.

{snip}

But Thursday, the 8-0 lead was way more than enough for Capitol pitcher Leif Hanson, who tossed a gem.

The burly right-hander, with an exceptional fastball, and even better control (just one walk) threw the maximum 85 pitches, which took him 5? innings into the game.

The only time Centralia got to him was the third when it scored all three of its runs.

Capitol not only hurt Centralia with its bats, but with some excellent team speed as well. The winners, who are aggressive and fast base runners, hurt Centralia with the smallball, laying down several bunts that Centralia had trouble fielding.

I listened to the final couple of innings from recorded copy of the radio broadcast on my commute home and was thrilled to hear Dustin come in to finish the game from the mound and enjoyed Capitol’s small ball tactics to capitalize on a soft-throwing lefty.

Then came Friday and the game was in the 5th inning with Centralia up 7-1 before i got tuned in. Capitol battled back to make it 7-5 but an error allowed two more Centralia runs across allowing the Centralia reliever to settle down after a sloppy start and strike out the wee but mighty Jacob and catch the speedy Austin at first (a close call to say the least). Despite the loss, listening from afar was a treat and kudos to the announcers for treating the kids with respect and dignity.

Here’s how Chronlice saw it (though i am not sure i buy into their “we were the underdog” gamemanship) ergo: “I love when people doubt us,” said an emotional Centralia manager Mike Housden amid the postgame jubilation. “A lot of people said we’d be out in two games. But I tell you what: My coaches and I told the kids we’d work hard for them if they’d work hard for us, because we all knew we were underdogs.”

Anyhow, … in 7/14/07 “A Sweet Repeat – Centralia Wins Second Straight District Title”, This Time as the Underdog Sam Bakotich, Sports Editor also notes:

And the Centralia defense was solid, with just two scattered errors, following a sloppy six-error game Thursday. After Reyna reached his limit of 85 pitches, Ty Housden came in and did a good job in relief.

Housden entered with two out in the fifth and just about got out of the inning but an error kept it alive. Then Dan Mongovin stepped to the plate and belted a two-run double for two unearned runs to close the gap to 7-4 and make it a ballgame.

The sixth inning was pressure-packed.

Centralia got two huge runs in the top of the sixth when the Capitol third baseman threw a bunted ball into right field, giving Centralia a 9-4 lead.

It got hairy in the bottom of the sixth when Capitol loaded the bags on a single and two hit batters by Housden, who suddenly got a bit wild.

That brought up the tense moment of the game for Centralia when little Jacob Mowry came to the plate. Mowry is small but packs a lot of power, having already ripped three home runs against Centralia in two earlier games.

{snip}

Mowry worked Housden to a full count, and then whiffed on a curveball, to the roar of the Centralia faithful, for the second out.

That brought up another tough hitter, Austin Lee, and Housden got him to ground out to second, to end the game and send the entire Centralia team into a happy frenzy.

More at:

“Capitol comes up short” by Gail Wood ThOlympian (sic)

Centralia led Capitol 4-0 after the second inning and 7-1 going into the bottom of the fifth. But a no-quit Capitol team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth with pinch-hitter Dan Mongovin knocking a two-run double to highlight the comeback.

“These kids never gave up,” Capitol coach Ron Hansen said. “They never quit. Even tonight they fought back.”

Capitol opened the tournament with a 3-1 win against Chehalis and a 7-5 win against Montesano. Centralia then handed Capitol its first tournament loss, winning 10-3.

Fighting through the losers bracket, Capitol then beat Chehalis 10-5 and Centralia 10-4 to force a final game with Centralia.

“There was a clutch player every game,” Hansen said.

Aberdeen’s Daily World in “Sports Briefs“

Capitol forces Little League showdown

MONTESANO — Capitol forced a second championship game in the District III Major League Little League baseball tournament with a 10-3 victory over previously unbeaten Centralia on Thursday night at Montesano’s Nelson Field.

The same two teams will collide again at 6 p.m. today for the district championship and a state berth.

Manor Books blog “Game Over” – Capitol All-Stars Baseball Team Scored Big in Regional Play-Offs!