Sun Devils knock of Scarlets
Miles Douglass/Columbia Basin HeraldMoses Lake Sun Devils base runner Mitch Yada dives back to first base during Moses Lake's 21-14 victory over the Yakima Scarlets to earn a birth in this weekend's state tournament in Spokane.
Moses Lake 21 Yakima 14
MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Sun Devils hosted the Junior Legion 16U A district championship series Monday afternoon at Lauzier field after scheduling conflicts forced a cancellation of play last weekend.
The Sun Devils soundly defeated the Yakima Scarlets 21-14 in a game where the winner advances to the state championship tournament.
The three-game division series was scheduled take place at Lauzier Field last weekend before the Junior Legion state commissioner scheduled a sudden-death elimination game to be played Monday in Moses Lake.
The Sun Devils took control contest early, jumping out to a dominant first inning lead. Moses Lake scored seven runs in the first inning of what looked to be a game shortened by the ten-run mercy rule.
Junior Legion rules state teams must play at least four innings for a contest to be official. If after four innings one team leads another by ten runs or more, the game is over.
In the third inning, the Scarlets managed only three runs.
Sun Devils head coach Quintz Whitaker said the victory over Yakima showed what the Sun Devil players are made of.
"It's good to see the boys stick together in a game where they are up by fifteen runs," he said.
Heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Sun Devils led the Scarlets 20-5.
Despite the Moses Lake's lead, Whitaker said the Scarlets never gave up.
"You think you have them down and out, they just don't quit" he said about the Yakima team.
The Sun Devils move on to the Junior Legion A state tournament August 2-6 in Spokane.