Sitka will play another day.
The third game of the 2013 statewide championship tournament for little league wrapped up around 4:45 p.m. Friday in Wrangell.
South Anchorage represents District 1 in the tournament. Sitka is playing for District 2. The players are all 11 and 12 year olds in the Major League division.
Anchorage beat Sitka 10 to three in the first game. They stayed on top in game two, winning 12 to one.
After two hard-fought defeats, Sitka came out strong and steady to start game three. The cries from the crowd were deafening as each batter from Sitka stepped up to the plate.
At the bottom of the first inning, Sitka was up by three with Anchorage at one.
Anchorage delivered good hits. But Sitka countered with smart defensive play and solid base running.
Sitka’s third baseman, Gavin Flores, tagged out Anchorage’s final batter in the second inning.
Bottom of the third, saw Anchorage bring two more batters home. But Sitka kept the tie by tagging out Anchorage’s player on second base.
Sitka scored again in the fourth inning, with quick outs on the Anchorage side. The fifth was more challenging, but the score held in Sitka’s favor, four to three.
Top of the sixth saw the crowd roaring in the stands and the announcer calling plays at a feverish pace.
At the bottom of the sixth, with only one point difference, Anchorage brought a batter to third base.
Sitka pitcher Brian Joseph reached his pitch count, with a total of six strike-outs in the game.
Tyler Simoang took over to pitch. Anchorage hit the first ball hard, and straight into the hands of Cole Riggs, Sitka’s second baseman.
Final score? 4-3, Sitka.
This means the games aren’t over yet. Sitka will face Anchorage again tomorrow at noon.
