|
Kingsford Boys Suffer Heartbreaking Tourney Loss
 TAYLOR, Mich.---The Kingsford Minor Boys (age 9-10) had the lead for the entire game against West Portage on Monday at the state tournament in downstate Taylor. But the Kalamazoo-area team rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to eliminate the Maize and Blue, 11-10. Kingsford had leads of 8-3 and 10-5 late in the game, and were one out away from victory, but could not hang on.  Andres Finley then came on to pitch, and Kingsford had a 3-0 lead. West Portage got one run, but stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning. With the score 4-3, Finley helped his own cause with a two-run base hit, and Gavin Trevillian ripped one over the left fielder's head to bring home another run. A ground ball made McLain scored the final run of the inning (although a runner left base before the pitch crossed home plate, so it was "early"). Finley allowed two runs in the fourth inning on bases loaded walks, but he was able to get three straight ground balls to leave three more West Portage baserunners again. After Kingsford scored two unearned runs in the top of of the fifth to make it 10-5, and Joey Weber came in to pitch. West Portage got two runs on walks in the bottom of the fifth, setting up the big rally in the bottom of the sixth that sank the Kingsford hopes. Kingsford finished 1-2 in the 16-team, double elimination tournament. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos, videos from Monday's game.  |
