7/16/2008 6:00:00 AM All-Stars shine in Blythe Kingman North team captures championship despite an early loss
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The Kingman North Little League Junior All-Stars marched through the loser’s bracket to capture the District 9 championship on Sunday in Blythe, Calif. The team is in Phoenix today to begin its quest for the Arizona state championship.
KINGMAN - Faced with the prospect of playing in five consecutive elimination games, the Kingman North Little League 13-14 Junior All-Star team stared adversity down and captured the District 9 championship on Sunday in Blythe, Calif.
Now, after returning home in the early-morning hours on Monday, Kingman North opens the Arizona State Junior Baseball 2008 Little League Tournament in Mesa at 7:30 p.m. today against the District 8 champion. The state tournament will be played in pool format, and KNLL will play six games.
KNLL will advance to the semifinals if it takes at least second place in its pool.
"I actually think that this is one of the best teams that I've ever coached or have had anything to do with my whole life," coach Steve Sherwood said about the state tournament. "We have a good opportunity, though we'll be facing some big-time power teams from Phoenix. I think we have a good chance."
KNLL opened the District 9 tournament on July 7 with a 7-6 win over host Blythe. After a day off, KNLL was sent to the loser's bracket by Bullhead City, 10-7. This wasn't the last that Bullhead heard from KNLL
With the loss to Bullhead, KNLL faced elimination every time it took the field for the remainder of the tournament. KNLL bounced back on Thursday with a 20-11 win over Kingman South, sending its cross-town rivals home.
KNLL had a rematch with Blythe on Friday, and the hometown boys eliminated the hosts by a score of 15-11. KNLL used the mercy rule on Saturday as Parker left the tournament after five innings, 13-1.
That win put KNLL in the championship round against Bullhead. KNLL had to defeat the river rats twice in order to plan its trip to Mesa. KNLL's Ty Sherwood held Bullhead in check in the first game as the KNLL bats came alive for a 28-4 mercy-rule win. KNLL opened the game with 11 first-inning runs.
Joshua Van Vliet went six innings to earn the win, and Brian Abraham pitched the final inning to get the save as KNLL captured the District 9 championship over Bullhead in the second game, 7-5.
KNLL had four players hit over .500 for the tournament, Sherwood said. Chris Baca led the way for KNLL by hitting over .700 for the tournament and pitching well in the two crucial wins over Blythe.
The players and coaching staff were busy Tuesday trying to raise funds for the 11-day tournament in Mesa. Hotel rooms, food and entertainment costs will be quite high for the team. Any donations would be greatly appreciated, Sherwood said.
Donations can be arranged by contacting Sherwood at (928) 699-0377 or Bill McCord at (928) 279-2199.
