BANGOR, Maine – The U.S. Southeast regional champion Dumfries District L.L. from Dumfries, Virginia, kept their dreams of winning the Senior League World Series alive by beating Kiwanis National L.L. from Regina, Saskatchewan, 4-1, in an elimination game at Mansfield Stadium on Tuesday.
Dumfries District L.L. jumped out to an early two run lead in the bottom of the first inning. Center fielder Ethan Semones led off with a single and stole second base. Semones moved to third on an infield single from Daniel Hupart and scored on a single to left field from Anthony Stehlin. Catcher Tristan Thorgersen hit a one-out ground ball to short that scored Hupart.
“I was thinking hit it somewhere hard so we can get it in and not just pop out to the infield or something so he can’t score,” said Stehlin.
Carson Arguin added RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings to give Dumfries District L.L. a 4-0 lead going into the seventh inning.
Blake Gatewood moved to the mound in the top of the seventh for Dumfries District L.L., but was replaced by Stehlin after allowing the first three Kiwanis National L.L. hitters to reach base.
Bryden Pow hit a ground ball to Dumfries District L.L. third baseman Devin Logsdon, who threw the ball home for the force out. Thorgersen threw the ball to first to try for a 5-2-3 double play, but the throw was off target, allowing Kordell Yee to score for Kiwanis National L.L. and Pow to move into scoring position with only one out.
Stehlin got Austin Ilijevski to ground back to the mound for the second out of the inning, and struck out Jayden Lorenz on three straight pitches to end the game.
Stehlin was the fourth pitcher of the game for Dumfries District L.L. Logsdon started for the Virginia team, allowing only two hits to the 11 batters that he faced in the first three innings. Hupart pitched the next three innings, allowing only one hit.
“I’ve got confidence in all of my pitchers. Sometimes they’re on. Sometimes they’re off,” said Dumfries District L.L. manager Tim Jabs. “That’s why we have a lot of guys, so if something’s not working with one of them, we just switch out and work the other guy.”
Nathan Slobodian started on the mound for Kiwanis National L.L., allowing six hits and three walks in three and a third innings. Jared Gudereit pitched the final two and two thirds innings, allowing one run on three hits.
Adam DeCorby led the Kiwanis National L.L. offense with two singles, while Brian So, Josh Warsylewicz and Jacob Lipp had one hit each.
Semones had three hits and scored two runs from the leadoff spot for Dumfries District L.L. Arguin and Stehlin each had two hits, while Hupart and Darien Porter each recorded singles.
“I was just trying to hit balls that I’m not chasing and hit balls in the strike zone,” said Semones.
Kiwanis National L.L. is eliminated from the tournament with the loss, but will play a consolation game against the U.S. East regional champion Clifton American/National L.L. from Clifton, New Jersey, at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
The Canadian team lost their first game to Latin America regional champion Roberto Clemente L.L. from Carolina, Puerto Rico, 8-0 on Sunday, and won an elimination game against Europe-Africa regional champion Catalunya L.L. from Barcelona, Spain, 1-0, on Monday.
“They’re a little bit overwhelmed when they get to something like this,” said Kiwanis National L.L. manager Roger DeCorby. “They know Canada is not a baseball power. We’re playing the states, which create the best baseball in the world. We’re playing Puerto Rico and teams like that. It takes a little bit for guys to get their feet under them, but pretty quickly they usually do.”
“We didn’t embarrass ourselves this week, that’s for sure,” added DeCorby. “We played very well so far, and we’re going to play well again tomorrow.”
Clifton American/National L.L. was eliminated after losing to Dumfries District L.L., 4-3, and U.S. Southwest regional champion Capitol Park L.L. from San Antonio, Texas, 12-1.
Dumfries District L.L. will play the loser of game 12 between U.S. West regional champion Central East Maui L.L. from Wailuke, Hawaii, and Maine District 3 champion Bronco-Hermon L.L. at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Dumfries District L.L. lost to Central East Maui L.L. on Monday, 7-4.
