GHA hopes for a repeat, works its way up after first-round loss

All-star team hopes for last year’s result after first-round loss

Ashley Coats

of the Gateway

The Gig Harbor American 10-11-year-olds are hoping for history to repeat itself.

Last year, the team lost in the first round of the Little League district tournament and battled through the consolation bracket to reach the finals.

After a first-round loss this year to North Kitsap National Blue, then a win against North Kitsap Red, the team hopes to do it again.

“We’ve been in this spot before,” coach Sean Smith said.

Gig Harbor American led North Kitsap Blue the entire game Saturday until the bottom of the final inning at the Gig Harbor Little League complex off Burnham Drive.

“It takes a full six innings of baseball to win a game, and we just didn’t play six innings of baseball,” Smith said.

GHA was up 3-1 going into the sixth. But a North Kitsap player hit a two-run homer to tie the game, and then GHA caught a runner between third and home.

The runner squeaked by with the game-winning run.

“We did really good, but the last play didn’t work out so well for us,” said pitcher Garrett Smith. “Our team wasn’t hitting the ball like we normally do.”

Garrett Smith had a good game both at the plate and on the mound. One of the North Kitsap fans said Smith’s pitching style resembled that of former Seattle Mariner Randy Johnson.

Smith pitched for four innings and didn’t allow any runs.

“I’ve improved a lot since the regular season,” he said.

Infielder Marque Kreibel, and outfielders Drew Lawson and Jairus Richards had acrobatic catches throughout the game, helping maintain the lead until the sixth.

“I have 11 players, and they are all truly all-stars,” GHA manager Dave Kilcup said. “You’re teaching kids a lot about the sport and a lot about themselves, hopefully.”

GHA kept its tournament hopes alive Sunday with a 7-0 win over North Kitsap Red. The Americans’ Austin Kilcup struck out nine batters and only allowed three hits. He also hit one out of the park.

“(We) are really happy with the kids’ effort,” Sean Smith said. “Hopefully the kids will learn from what we did right and what we did wrong.”

Chandler Gibson made a big play in the outfield after coming in off the bench. Gibson went back on a fly ball that a North Kitsap batter nailed all the way to the fence.

“He snagged the thing right out of the sky,” Dave Kilcup said.

Meanwhile, Patrick Spieker had an impressive game at third base. Kilcup calls him “the vacuum cleaner” because he “sucks anything up that gets close.”

GHA will play at 4:30 this afternoon at the Gig Harbor Little League complex. The team needs to win the next five games to make it to the championship contest.

“I just want to keep winning and win the championship,” Garrett Smith said.

Reach intern Ashley Coats at 253-853-9224 or by e-mail at ashley.coats@gateline.com.