South Highline American's White Sox gave it a good try against Renton's Cardinals, but, experience and a pitch that turned into a hit of bad luck both served to quickly fall the locals, 11-1, in the District 7 Little League Majors Tournament of Champions game at Normandy Park's park Monday June 16.

"The other team was almost all 12 year olds," said Gil Gardner, manager of SHA. "We have three 10 year olds, five 11 year olds."

Pretty much explains it. Besides the fact that the SHA top pitcher, according to the team's best hitter, was not there.

Taylor Havlicek, who is a nephew to former Seattle Sonic John Havlicek, hit well - the best for his team. He had two and this game, remember, only went four innings before the 10-run rule in Little League stopped the game. But unfortunately Havlicek was the only one that hit well, going 2-for-4.

"We were just off today and we didn't have our top pitcher for the championship," said Havlicek.

They were off as far as making the offense go anywhere but there were chances, starting in the bottom of the first inning. Anytime a runner gets on, there needs to be someone to get him in a position to score, which did not happen after leadoff Marques Carlson singled and the rest were outs after that.

The Renton bottom half of the first went the same, no hits.

Lukas Kelly singled and runners were at second and third base. This team that only lost two games all season, and only in the postseason, was ripe to show Renton what the White Sox were made of. But an out on a shortstop to first base throw was the result and the White Sox left two men on base as their inning was over.

The second was painful, literally, especially for White Sox pitcher Gardner. The SHA hurler, after the first batter, singled and scored on the next batter's RBI single to tie things, 1-1, met a hard sphere reality. The next batter turned his belly, and, bat, on the ball, swinging the Easton and the ball hit the bat and bounced with the speed of a mad bee right into Gardner's leg. That stung! So much so that Gardner lay on the ground reeling in pain for a good five minutes. He did get up and walk it off.

"I was hit on my leg area," he said, pointing to what looked like the outside middle area of his leg.

But the damage was done, literally, so it seemed. He was hit on his left leg which was the leg he pushes off of. It hurt?

"Kind of, but not really," said Gardner.

Gil was there, and was talking of the incident,

"I'm sure it hurt," he said.

Anyway, the rest is almost history and in this case "rest" means the outcome of the game. With Gardner just having been hit, Renton went on to hit the ball for seven batters straight before a walk and strikeout ended the inning graciously for Gardner, limping a little back to his dugout.

Like Havlicek said, it was not this team's day, but after the game it was still known to these players that losing the title did not take away from the great two-loss season they had.

Gardner was a good manager and there were good coaches.

"He is a good coach," said Havlicek. "He does his best to get players in positions where he knows they can do their best."

The game was over and it almost looked like it was the day the music died outside the White Sox players dugout. Players talked little and definitely were looking down, literally.

"Hey, you guys don't need to be getting down," coach Ian Sittler jumped in. Sittler coaches with coach Randy Gifford and Gardner standing nearby. "Get in here and let's do a cheer. You guys were undefeated in league this season. Keep your heads up. On three, let everyone know who you are."

White Sox!

"We have a pretty young team," said Gardner, emphasizing what he said earlier. "There are a lot of other teams that would like to be standing where we are."

Players for the South Highline American White Sox are Marques Carlson, Ryan Gifford, Jake Gardner, Trent Siedenburg, Taylor Havlicek, Leyton Thommasen, Christian Bond, Lukas Kelly, Peter Krueger and Braedon Wilson.