NORMANDY PARK - Heavy hitting hoisted the South Highline American League's Mariners to a first-place trophy.

Silepa "Sunshine" Fola socked a solo home run and a two-run double while Luke Lloyd pitched a complete game to steer South Highline past West Seattle, 12-2, in four innings at the Normandy Park City Hall fields for the District 7 Little League Minors Tournament of Champions title on Monday night, June 19.

With the victory, the Mariners completed a three-game winning run through the TOC field after posting a 12-1 record in their league championship season. The Americans survived a heart-pounding back and forth game against South Highline National to reach the final. Tied at 6-6, the Americans scored a run with two out in the bottom of the seventh to squeeze out the win. West Seattle's Angels edged out Rainier, 16-13, before storming past Southwest, 8-1, to secure their championship game status.

Several South Highline American batters distinguished themselves in the championship fray. Fola's brother, Siiuka, batted 3-for-4 with three RBI while William Garcia (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI) and Jacob Gardner (2-3, RBI) added to the SHALL firepower.

"We were so good this year, probably, because once we get on a rally with our hits, we just can't be stopped," said Gardner.

West Seattle grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Matt Weller beat out an infield grounder while Conner Gory, who had earlier singled with one out, scored from second base.

Quickly retaliating, the Mariners tied up the encounter when Skyler Abney's fly ball deflected off the top of the left fielder's mitt before Gardner's bases loaded infield single gave the Americans a 2-1 advantage in the second inning.

"Sunshine" Fola went deep over the left field fence to lead off the top of the third inning and get the South Highline American high-powered offense rolling. Garcia later powered a run-scoring double over the right fielder's head to extend the SHALL margin to 4-1.

"The pitch was head level," "Sunshine" said about her homer pitch. "I've hit lots of homers this season."

In the home half of the inning, the Angels' Owen Vickey ripped a run-scoring single to draw WS within 4-2, but the Mariners soon shattered the Angels' dreams of glory.

Like naval battleships, South Highline American fired their big guns for eight runs in the fourth inning to break open the close encounter. Siiuka and "Sunshine" Fola each hammered home two runs while Garcia slammed a run-scoring single. Four walks and a hit batter further aided the American effort.

Starting right handed pitcher Lloyd responded with his best inning of the ball game, setting down the Angels with two consecutive strike outs and a ground out to end the match up on the 10-run mercy rule. Lloyd kept the Angels off balance, allowing only three hits and striking out four batters while yielding one walk.

Solid defense also played a vital role in the Mariner win.

With West Seattle runner Malia Dewey perched on second base after slicing a double down the left field line, South Highline left-handed third baseman Marc Higgins dove, fully extended to his right to snare a line drive just above ground level to rob the batter of a possible extra base hit.

"It hasn't set in, yet," Mariner manager Gil Gardner said. "The kids played well. They deserved it. Before the game I said that if our bats were there, we would win the game."

Members of the TOC first-place Mariners are Marc Higgins, Aaron Lucas, Jacob Gardner, Siiuka Fola, Silepa "Sunshine" Fola, Jeremiah Bement, Luke Lloyd, William Garcia, Skyler Abney, Trevian O'Cain and Richard Manler.

Manager Gardner's assistant coaches are Willie Garcia and Bill Abney.