Union-Bulletin

TRI-CITIES - Walla Walla Black Sox 14U had five straight victories at the Triple Crown Father's Day World Series Qualifier tournament at various venues Friday through Sunday.

The streak put the Black Sox in the tourney championship against Marysville Sunday evening, but lost 2-0 to bring home second place and a spot in the Triple Crown 14U World Series in August in Springboat, Colo.

The Black Sox opened up tournament play with a 9-8 victory over Maple Valley Friday, and then downed South End, 7-5, and Kennewick, 5-4, Saturday.

Sunday morning, the Black Sox edged Vancouver, 9-8, before handling East Seattle in the tournament semifinals, 6-1, to set up the championship game against Marysville.

In the opener against Maple Valley, Adam Eskil drove in Ali Buentello in the bottom of the eighth inning for the victory.

In the second game against South End, Spencer Locati blasted a three-run home run over the 335-foot sign in left field as Walla Walla overcame a two-run deficit to take the lead.

The Black Sox trailed Kennewick into the seventh inning, 4-3, when Erik Klicker's single was followed by Buentello's single and the go-ahead, two-RBI single by Darryl Galloway. Adam Mathews then set down the Vipers in order in the bottom of the inning for the victory.

Vancouver answered Walla Walla's two-run seventh inning with two runs of its own to pull within 9-8, but left the tying run on third base as Mathews struck out the final Bulldogs' batter to end the game.

Locati smacked another home run against East Seattle, this time a three-run drive that scored Mathews and Joe Duehn in the first inning.

In the title game, Black Sox coach Mike Postlewait said the Marysville pitcher kept the Walla Walla batters off-balance the entire game as he held them scoreless.

"This was a great tournament for the Black Sox," Postlewait said. "There were 30 teams entered, and by placing second we earned a berth in to the Triple Cown World Series.

"Coach (Kim) Cox and myself were very pleased by the persistence of our players all weekend," Postlewait said. "There were several times we battled from behind to get the win.

"Our pitchers did not locate as well this weekend, but they still were able to win vs. the top teams in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana," he said. "Earning a berth to the World Series is a great accomplishment that all the players should be proud of."

The Black Sox, now 17-3, head to Coeur d'Alene for a Round Robin tournament next weekend.

Walla Walla 9, Maple Valley 8

Maple Valley 400 012 10 - 8 11 0

Walla Walla 500 030 01 - 9 10 1

Fokemma, Washburn (5), Johnson (6), Humbert (7) and Hendrickson. Ortiz, Arellano (1), Klicker (6), Locati (7) and Deuhn.

HR - none.

Hits - Maple Valley: Atchison, Jimenez, Washburn 2, Hendrickson 2, Herrington, Horn, Visaya 2, Fokemma. Walla Walla: Ortiz, Duehn 3, Mathews, Caudill, Klicker 2, Buentello, Eskil.

Walla Walla 7, South End 5

Walla Walla 101 320 - 7 9 1

South End 202 010 - 5 7 1

Galloway, Klicker (3) and Ortiz. Endres, Mansfield (4), Henke (6) and Wingate.

HR - Walla Walla: Locati.

Hits - Walla Walla: Duehn, Locati, Mathews, Caudill, Klicker 2, Buentello, Eskil 2, Pontarolo. South End: Pamiago, Sesnon 2, Henke, Endres, Whitmore, Blalock.

Walla Walla 5, Kennewick 4

Walla Walla 001 002 2 - 5 10 2

Kennewick 000 013 0 - 4 4 0

Locati, Klicker (6), Mathews (6) and Ortiz. Marshell and Guanjado.

HR - none.

Hits - Walla Walla: Duehn, Mathews 2, Klicker, Buentello 2, Galloway 2, Arellano 2. Kennewick: Guanjado 2, Campbell, Kretz.

Walla Walla 9, Vancouver 8

Walla Walla 201 220 2 - 9 8 2

Vancouver 100 140 2 - 8 8 1

Buentello, Mathews (5) and Ortiz. Walker, Spies (4), Chany (5), Ovary (7) and Freise.

HR - none.

Hits - Walla Walla: Duehn 3, Locati, Caudill 2, Galloway, Arellano. Vancouver: Benign, Dennis, Valentine 2, Green 2, Spies 2.

Walla Walla 6, East Seattle 1

Walla Walla 420 000 - 6 7 1

East Seattle 001 000 - 1 4 0

Mathews, Arellano (5) and Ortiz. Beaham, Henkle (2), Sutherland (6) and Mitchell.

HR - Walla Walla: Locati.

Hits - Walla Walla: Mathews, Duehn 2, Locati 2, Arellano, Ortiz. East Seattle: Mitchell, Perchalski 2, Larolar.

Marysville 2, Walla Walla 0

Walla Walla 000 000 0 - 0 3 1

Marysville 000 200 0 - 2 3 1

Buentello, Arellano (4) Locati (5) and Ortiz. Lutton and Kessen.

Hits - Walla Walla: Caudill, Galloway, Ortiz. Marysville: Lutton, Kassen, Baumgarter.