By Gerardo Bolong

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Renton rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to overtake Pacwest 5-4 and advance in the winners bracket of the 2019 District 7 Little League 8-10 age tournament.

The Renton team advanced to the championship round on Wed., July 3, as the unbeaten participant.

PW will have to win a losers bracket game to qualify for a rematch with Renton.

The road back starts with a 6 p.m. game at PacWest on Tues., July 2.

With the Pacwest All Stars clinging to a 4-3 lead heading into the home half of the sixth inning, Renton made its final move.

Maxwell Brender opened up with a single  ahead of Jada Keen’s walk. Mason also walked to load the bases.

Drawing a base on balls, Mason Rodriguez forced home the equalizing run to set up Colton Hollerback for the game winning walk.

In the early part of the game, Rodriguez wedged a leadoff single in the second inning followed by a Hollerback double. Karl Ust then flipped an infield single for a run.

Pacwest retaliated with a third inning surge keyed by Peterson’s bases loaded walk and Kael Copeland’s two-run single to right field.

The 3-1 PW lead remained until Pacwest added a fifth inning run on an RBI single through the middle by Josiah Barron.

Unable to close the deal, PacWest lived on the edge as Renton countered in the bottom of the fifth.

Two consecutive Renton Little League singles gave Rodriguez a chance to drive two runs home. 

With the bases loaded and two out, relief pitcher Coughlin Riley induced a Renton hitter to strike out on a full count, high and inside fastball.

Pacwest batter Nate Klika led off the sixth with a single, but was stranded on first to lead into the winning Renton rally.