BY GERARDO BOLONG

Contributing Writer

The power of the long ball hoisted West Seattle over South Highline National, 17-5, in a winners bracket match up of the 2017 District 7 Little League baseball 9-11 age All Star tournament held on Sun., July 2, at Pac West Field #1.

"Our team is solid from 1-13 (of the roster)," said WS manager Mike Fahy. "The team is solid with no weak players."

The West Siders notched trio of hits in the opening frame, but failed to score allowing the Nationals from Normandy Park to grab the lead in the home half of the inning.

Oliver Turajski led off with a walk before advancing to second base base following a catcher's throwing error. Dylan Stefnik's ground out moved the runner to third base to set up Avery Procter's RBI. Later in the inning, Tim Dethlefs singled home a second run which was all that SHN would get for the next three innings.

In the third inning, Miles Gosztola of West Seattle led off with a single ahead of Caden Fahy's run-scoring  double. 

Then, the WS fireworks continued in earnest.

Robbie Foisy blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence into the woods. Matthew Henning followed with a solo home run to right centerfield for the fourth run. The WS lead eventually reached 5-0 on a Joe Sherick RBI double.

In the fourth inning, West Seattle again scored five runs on six hits. Foisy delivered a pair of runs with a single as a prelude to Tristan Buehring's three-run shot pulled over the right field fence.

Trailing 10-2, the Nationals struck back in he fifth inning. Stefnik doubled home a run before Procter's sacrifice fly plated a run to make the score 10-4. Ethan Hougham singled through the middle to send home South Highline National's final run of the game.

West Seattle roared for a seven-run sixth inning to solidify its position. Wyatt Glover's base on balls preceded a one-run throwing error. Gosztola found the woods over the left field fence for a two-run homer. Parker Eley later joined the home run honor roll with a three-run power bomb of his own before Glover ended the run parade with a run-scoring double.

West Seattle was able to use a multitude of pitchers in short stints during this game as well.

"The team is very versatile," concluded Fahy. "They're all athletes that can play different positions well."