SAN BERNARDINO — Facing a moment of truth, South Hill Little League’s Rawly Jennings could not have been more “for real.”
Jennings started the game-winning rally with a two-out double for Washington in a 13-7 come-from-behind victory over Idaho in the Little League Northwest Region championship game at Al Houghton Stadium on Thursday night.
“For real, for real,” said Jennings after Washington’s 12-and-under baseball champions scored eight times in the sixth to run away with the win.
Jennings finished 2 for 3 with two doubles and scored the game-tying run for South Hill LL, which advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., in its first attempt. It will be the fourth consecutive year that a Washington team will represent the Northwest at the World Series.
“We weren’t trying to do too much but once we calmed down we made the plays we needed to and we hyped up each other in that last inning to bring it all together,” Jennings said.
Jett Taylor had a three-run home run to cap an explosive sixth inning as Washington rallied from a 6-5 deficit to avenge its loss to Idaho in the tournament opener.
“We were chasing one run, trying to get somebody on and make something happen,” Washington coach Derek Jennings said. “We scraped and we fight and that’s kind of been our motto since these kids were 8-year-olds; never say die, never give up.”
Connor Morey reached base three times, had an RBI and scored a run, and Easton Stolmeier and Kohen Wills scored two runs apiece in the win, Washington’s third consecutive coming out of the Northwest consolation bracket.
“There was a lot of pressure and a lot of comments and a lot of expectation because we’re Washington,” Derek Jennings said. “I think when they finally got to that moment where it’s backs against the wall, fight or flight and they chose to fight.”
Braden Louwsma hit a towering two-run home run in the loss for West Valley LL, which was one strike away from becoming just the second representative from Idaho to advance to the World Series.
Idaho broke through in the second inning with a pair of runs to take the lead but Washington put two on the scoreboard in the top of the third to draw even.
In the bottom of the third, Louwsma blasted a two-run home run 20-plus feet over the left field wall for a 4-2 lead, and Hudson Wall came across to add another run.
Idaho starter Owen Westley got two out in the top of the fourth but hit a batter and was pulled from the game after a two-run single by Taylor pulled Washington to within one run. Taylor made it 5-5 when he scored on an error.
Idaho’s Ethan Dial walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth and came around to score on a wild pitch as West Valley briefly led 6-5 and needed only three more outs to win the game.
Louwsma, brought on to pitch to end the fourth inning, struck out four of the first six batters he faced and held an 0-2 count against Jennings but took the loss after allowing six runs on five hits.
