WEST SEATTLE - Outstanding pitching and hitting in the familiar confines of the Bar-S Playfields were just what the West Seattle All Stars needed in a pre-Independence Day sizzling celebration on the night of Thursday, July 3.

Showing confidence against a powerful foe, unbeaten West Seattle held off a determined bid by previously once-beaten South Highline National, 6-4, to earn the District 7 Little League Majors (ages 11-12) baseball championship.

With the win, West Seattle earned a spot in the state tournament beginning on July 19 at Freedom Field in Mill Creek.

Celebrating its 50th year of participation in Little League, West Seattle continued its banner year, adding the district Majors championship to its 9-10 age and 10-11 age district banners.

“We had great pitchers to begin with,” exclaimed West Seattle manager Bob Lakey. “First Rex, then Anthony pitched well for us. Lamping used the knuckle ball and was fearless. The team hit a ton in the tournament and made great fundamental plays. The kids worked hard and put their whole hearts into it.”

The All Stars from Normandy Park began the fireworks with a two-out, 200 foot first inning home run off the bat of Derik Bontempo to take a 1-0 lead. Consecutive base hits from Andrew Baca and Riley McCoy followed by an infield error loaded the bases, but starting WS pitcher Rex Lakey fanned the next batter to stem the rising tide.

West Seattle countered with its own amazing ammunition in the bottom of the inning. Lakey’s one-out RBI single started the salvo. With two outs, Jacob Eddy singled to join Lakey on the bases. Anthony Lamping was hit by a pitch to make it a threesome on the bags.

It was then that Matt Weller blasted the shot that was heard around the District 7 world. Finding a pitch to his liking, Weller rocketed the pitch sky high and over the left field fence for a grand slam home run and a 5-1 West Seattle advantage.

“With two strikes and two outs, I was protecting the plate,” he elaborated. “He gave me a pitch inside and I ripped it.”

Like World War II infantry men, the Nationals dug in and returned fire. Bontempo buried another solo home run - his fourth of the tournament - to the deepest depths of center field to carve away the deficit to 5-2.

“Both pitches for home runs were in the same place - outside and in the middle,” he recalled. “I just drilled them pretty good. There was lots of competition, especially from West Seattle.”

SHN made further inroads on the game’s progress in the top of the fourth inning. Adam Badley battled for a nine-pitch walk from the lead off spot. Joey Hignite advanced Badley to second with a perfect sacrifice bunt. Tanner Seramur followed with his RBI single to make the score 5-3. Right fielder Eddy threw home too late to catch the scoring runner, but catcher Andrew Crunican alertly gunned the ball to shortstop Nate Sobotta, who applied the tag to the sliding runner at second base. Anthony Lamping relieved starting pitcher Lakey and forced a ground out to second base, ending the uprising.

In the bottom of the inning, WS replied to the National run. Joey Werlech reached base on a two-base infield throwing error. Crunican belted him home with a single. At this point, McCoy came to the mound for South Highline and proceeded to coax a pop out and strike out, keeping SHN close. McCoy added to his pitching credentials with a scoreless fifth inning before Highline mounted its final assault in the sixth inning.

McCoy led off the sixth with a single to set the stage for the never-say-die Nationals. Brandon Scott powered a slicing triple to right field, bringing the score to 6-4 with no outs. West Seattle’s Lamping reared back to strike out the next two batters and induce a ground ball out to the second baseman as the West Seattle All Stars punched their ticket to state.

“I was using my knuckle ball and mixed it in with my other pitches,” he said. “My hands were loose and I felt calm.”

For the game, South Highline out hit West Seattle, 9-7. Bontempo batted 2-for-3 with two home runs and two RBI. Baca and McCoy each batted 2-for-3.

“I’m happy with their effort,” said South Highline manager Jeff Wentz. “They were sent to the losers bracket early and fought back. Bontempo is our home run hitter. We just needed more runners in front of him. Our starter Brandon Scott held ‘em except for the grand slam. I just wanted to have a chance at the end. I’m glad we accomplished what we did.”

West Seattle began the tournament by edging out Pac West 3-1 before administering an 11-3 beating to South Highline National. An 8-3 conquest of Renton set up the championship round. In that semifinal, Derek Billey smacked two home runs.

“I hit first pitch fast balls and didn’t swing hard,” Billey stated.

South Highline National defeated Seattle Central before losing to West Seattle. The Normandy Park warriors followed with wins against Southwest, Rainier and Renton to earn the rematch against West Seattle.

“The team progressively got better as they played more games,” SHN coach Jim Triplett applauded.

West Seattle’s District 7 champion players are Derek Billey, Andrew Crunican, Jacob Eddy, Jack Irwin, Merle Rowan-Kennedy, Rex Lakey, Anthony Lamping, Marley Lucas, Alex Mitchell, Nate Sobotta. Owen Vickrey, Matt Weller and Joey Werlech. The league president is Harvey Bauer.

Assisting manager Lakey are coaches Dan Billey and John McYnturff.

Representing South Highline National are players Ben Badley, Zak Fray, Derik Bontempo, Andrew Baca, Riley McCoy, Brandon Scott, Adam Badley, Joey Hignite, Tanner Seramur, Ryan Maeri and Brian Huynh.

Assisting manager Wentz is coach Jim Triplett. The league president is Will Stedman.