Zach Verta from Clear Ridge Little League from Chicago waits on a second inning pitch from Southern Mariners Little League pitcher Jackson Boyd during their Senior League World Series title game Saturday afternoon. Photo by Chris Lessner.
BANGOR- After back to back championships by West University Little League out of Houston, Texas there was finally a different winner at this year’s Senior Little League World Series at Mansfield Stadium and history set at the same time on Saturday afternoon.
Zach Verta pitched a solid 5.2 innings on the hill to lead the Clear Ridge Little League out of Chicago, Illinois to a 7-2 win over the Southern Mariners Little League and Asia-Pacific representative out of Melbourne, Australia.
The game was suspended in the top of the fifth inning due to thunder and lightening and rain that produced quarter size hail. After a 90 minute delay the team from Clear Ridge who finished the week with a record of 5-0 was able to finish it off and become the first team from the state of Illinois to win the title. The Asia-Pacific champions from Melbourne, Australia was making their first ever trip to the World Series and is the first resprentative from that region to ever play on championship Saturday.
Verta not only did the job on the mound for Clear Ridge he also did it with his bat. His first inning double scored Mike Skoraczewski who had walked to lead off the inning to make it 1-0.
In the bottom of the second the boys from Chicago were able to increase that lead. Dave Navarro led off with an infield hit and moved to second on a wild pitch from Australia starter Jackson Boyd. Paolo Savala then walked. Noah Miller then would rope a double down the right field line that scored Navarro to make it 2-0. Mike Rios then hit another infield single to load the bases with no outs. A wild pitch by Boyd allowed Savala to cross the plate to make it 3-0. After a popup by Skoraczewski for the first out, Boyd then struckout Joe Trezek but as Boyd turned to go back to the hill after the strikeout , Miller took off for home plate. By the time Boyd realized what was happening the throw was too late and Chicago led 4-0.
Australia would get on the board in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly from Tim Lane to cut it to 4-1. But a three run fourth inning by Clear Ridge that included a two run triple from Gage Olszak made it 7-1.
Australia did put some pressure on Chicago by putting two guys into scoring position in the top of the fifth with nobody out but Verta was able to get two outs before turning the ball over to Zavala who came in for relief after Verta had reached his 95 pitch limit. Australia did get a run back in the seventh inning but Zavala was able to record the final out with the bases loaded to thwart any chances of a big rally from Melbourne on this day.
Verta had solid numbers to earn the victory as he went 5.2 innings allowed one run, none earned, two hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. Zavala allowed an earned run, three hits and had two walks in his 1.1 innings in relief of the starter.
Boyd was able to go four innings for Australia allowing seven runs, four earned, seven hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Jordan Barnett pitched the final two innings and allowed no runs on just one base hit and had a strikeout. The Southern Mariners Little League ended the tournament with a record of 3-2 with both losses to Clear Ridge, Illinois.
AUS 0 0 1 0 0 0 1- 2 5 2
CHI 1 3 0 3 0 0 x- 7 8 2
WP- Verta LP- Boyd
Left on base- Australia 10, Chicago 5
