Efficient and economic offerings from the off -speed pitching of Kyle Anderton sent the Kent Jayhawks flying by the Steel Lake Mariners 8-2 in the title game of the 2007 District 10 Little League Baseball Tournament of Champions hosted by Federal Way American Little League on Tuesday, June 12.
For three and two-thirds innings, Anderton baffled Mariner batters to the tune of a perfect game.
Hitting third in the Steel Lake batting order, shortstop Brett Oyer destroyed the perfect game no-hitter and the shutout with one mighty swing that rocketed an Anderton pitch over the fence in straightaway center field.
"I knew that he would come at me first with the curve ball," explained Oyer, who knocked in SL's other run with a double in the fifth inning as part of a 2-for-3 batting day. "I work a lot with my hitting coach Steve Pearson to recognize the ball. I found it, so I just crushed it over the fence. I had seen the pitcher gripping the ball and I could tell he was coming with the curve ball."
Scott Dougherty singled for the Mariners' other hit.
Kent struck for a single run in the first inning before shelling Steel Lake for seven additional runs over the following five innings. Reese McGuire doubled, tripled and homered for 3 RBI in four at bats in the Jayhawk 10-hit attack. Anderton aided his own cause with a monstrous solo homer over the left field fence and halfway into the trees in the fifth inning.
Steel Lake began its journey with a 2-0 triumph against Auburn. Next, the Mariners outslugged Fife-Milton/Edgewood 10-7 to gain the championship game.
It was the struggle to reach the TOC that distinguished this group of 11-12 year-olds.
"We struggled in the middle of the year," said manager Tim Amato. "A lot of teams might have just given up, but we had a different group of kids and they just never gave up. We went on a winning streak, six or seven games in a row, I think and ended up getting the championship of the TOC. It's because 'A', we had some good players and 'B', they just never, ever, gave up. I'm really proud of these guys."
Before presenting Kent with the championship trophy, Federal Way American league president Jack Lintelmann presented a special plaque to long-time District 10 director Jim Chavez in recognition of his many years of service to Little League Baseball. Chavez has contributed more than 30 years of volunteer work to the program and is retiring from his post after the upcoming All-Star tournaments.
