By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR
West Seattle battled to a 6-2 win over Seattle Central in the losers bracket final of the District 7 Major age 10-12 Little League baseball all-star tournament Thursday.
The win earned a 6 p.m. Friday championship rematch for the Westsiders against a Rainier District team that dealt them a 13-3 defeat in Tuesday's winners bracket final.
West Seattle must win that game and an if necessary second game at 11 a.m. Saturday to capture the title and a trip to Richland for state.
The District 7 tournament is being played at the Bar-S complex in West Seattle.
Thursday's game was close the entire way, with Seattle scoring two runs in the top of the first inning and leaving the tying run at the plate in the sixth and final frame.
"We had a little bit of adversity there at the end, but the kids fought through it," said West Seattle manager Otis Moore.
Starting pitcher Cam Fitterer was within one strike of a complete game on a two-out full count when a ball was called.
"That last pitch was close," Moore said.
Fitterer was right at 80 pitches and had to be removed after that by rule.
Owen Ward of Seattle worked reliever Jesse LaBella for a walk and Eli Herst greeted second reliever Joe Sherick with a single to load the bases.
But Sherick bore down to get the next batter to ground out to first baseman Duncan Monnin to end it.
Fitterer finished with four strikeouts in earning the win.
"He kept the bullpen in good shape," Moore said.
Seattle opened with two runs in the top of the first and the Westsiders answered right back with two in the bottom of the inning.
Cody Boehring, Hudson Harding, Sherick and Jones Kasperson all singled and Caden Ross contributed a walk.
Sherick broke the tie to lead off the third, launching a home run out just to the right of center field.
Three insurance runs were added in the bottom of the fifth in a two-out rally.
Nicholas Beardemphl hit a clutch RBI single and Monnin hit an RBI double. The other run scored on a wild pitch.
Reece Holmes singled to lead the charge.
