Champs, again!

GH American 9-10s repeat as District 2 title holders

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

The Gig Harbor American 9- and 10-year-olds won the District 2 Little League championship for the second straight year on Sunday when they beat the Gig Harbor Nationals 6-3 at the Gig Harbor Little League Complex.

But they knew it wouldn’t be easy.

Earlier in the week, Gig Harbor American Manager Mike Ditter deviated from a normal practice routine when the Gig Harbor teams were set to play in the district semifinals. To combat the pressure, the Americans played a fun game of kickball and wound up beating Gig Harbor National 7-2.

That win secured a spot in the district championship game.

After the Nationals beat South Kitsap Southern 10-9 in the consolation final, it assured the Gig Harbor teams would face each other again — only this time, the winner would advance to the state tournament this weekend at Valley Ridge Park in Seatac.

Gig Harbor National jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but Ditter told his team there was plenty of baseball left.

“We just talked about treating it as another game,” Ditter said. “I said, ‘There’s going to be innings when you have struggles, and the kids who keep their composure will come out on top.’ ”

Ditter said the idea to play kickball before the teams’ semifinal matchup paid off.

“I figured the kids were going to be tense because they’re playing against their friends,” he said. “It added a little levity to the practice.”

Going into the semifinal round, the Nationals had trounced each team they faced. They outscored three opponents 38-11, topping South Kitsap Eastern 11-1, North Kitsap North 12-8 and Bainbridge Island Blue 15-2.

The double-digit run production came to a screeching halt when the Nationals faced the Americans’ No. 1 pitcher, RJ Green, who struck out six batters and allowed just two runs in 5 2/3 innings. Davis Alexander earned the save when he recorded the final out in the sixth.

“We just tried our hardest and kept the pressure on them,” Green said. “I’m really excited, and I hope we go to state. I’m really proud of the entire team.”

When Green’s pitch count was approaching 75 — the maximum for a 9-10-year-old to throw in a single game — he stepped up his efficiency and stretched his performance for as long as possible.

Ditter said having Green go as long as he could was a huge help.

“I think our bats were a little hotter, and RJ is an extremely heads-up pitcher,” he said. “He helped our cause tonight.”

The game was tied 1-1 after the first inning. Back-to-back doubles in the second by Green and shortstop Cole Price gave the Americans a 4-1 lead. Then in the third, Alexander hit a solo home run to right-center field for a 5-1 lead.

Then it was it was up to the Gig Harbor American defense to hold the Nationals at bay.

The Nationals scored when Stevens singled in a run in the bottom of the third, but that was it.

Price said winning the semifinal game against the Nationals was huge.

“Everybody wanted to win this,” he said. “I think we did well defensively today. It’s (defense) important because we have to hold them so they can’t score runs.”

Ditter said he was proud of how his team handled the pressure of playing against their friends in such an important game.

“I think the boys did great,” he said. “It was a tough game, because both teams knew each other. They kept their composure. I was proud of how they kept it all together when things got a little tight.”

Gig Harbor 9-10s advance to state tournament

The Gig Harbor 9- and 10-year-old Little League all-star team will open state tournament play at 2 p.m. at Valley Ridge Field in SeaTac against the Richland Nationals. For tournament information, visit www.littleleaguewa.org.