Basic baseball buoyed unbeaten South Highline National Little League to a District 7 Majors (11-12 year-olds) baseball All-Star title in the first of two possible championship round games on Sunday, July 11.

Pounding away for six runs in the last two innings, the baseball boys from Normandy Park turned a tense struggle into a comfortable 8-3 decision against continually battling West Seattle.

National opens the District 3 hosted state tournament against the District 10 champion on Saturday, July 24, at Smith-Murrey Park in Elma. Start time is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

"We used the basic elements of success - pitching, defense and timely hitting," stated Highline manager Dave Galando. "Our slogan has been 11-4-1 which means 11 players, four games (to win) and number one."

South Highline opened the Friday event with a solid first inning of offense beginning with Evan Galardo reaching first base on an infield throwing error. Ryan Lafrombois followed with a single before a fielder's choice ground out left runners on first and second with one out. Up stepped Jared Scott to deliver a run on a sacrifice fly out to left field. A WS throwing error in this sequence of plays allowed another SHN run to score.

National kept a slim lead through four innings due to the clutch pitching of starting pitcher Bryce Pulver. The strong right hander spaced out four hits during this time span, his only big mistake being an opposite field home run allowed to left-handed hitting Morgan McCullough in the third inning.

In the fifth inning, South Highline loaded the bases with one out. One strikeout later, Daniel Russell rifled a line drive that tipped off the mitt of a leaping first baseman for an RBI single to slightly stretch the National lead to 3-1.

Pulver's RBI double and a two-run single highlighted a five-run sixth inning salvo that situated South Highline in a superior situation, holding an 8-1 command.

"We played together andf just kept our heads in the game," stated Tyler Eaton.

To their continuing credit, the West Seattle All-Stars refused to go away meekly. McCullough singled to lead off West Seattle's sixth inning and Zachary Gibson hammered home the run one out later on a triple into the left field corner one strikeout later. Brandon Tyler walked ahead of David Johnson's single for West Seattle's final run.

"It was still agreat tournament for us," said West Seattle manager Mark O'Neil. "We played well and hung in through the loser-out bracket. We came out with total confidence against good pitching. The players gave 110 percent. Even though we were beat up with injuries, we fought through. That's all we could ask."

Pulver pitched five and one-third innings for South Highline National, giving up three runs on six hits with 11 strikeouts. The 85-pitch rule forced Pulver out of the game after he had accumulated 90 pitches following his last batter faced.

"I felt pretty good and just threw strikes," Pulver recalled. "On the home run I just threw too high a fastball."

Scott had two hits in four plate appearances with three runs batted in for SHN. Russell batted 2-for-4. David Johnson notched two hits in three at bats for WS, including a triple and RBI.

As South Highline set its sights on state play, a veteran All-Star commented on his experiences with his teammates.

"This is my fourth year as an All-Star (in different levels)," said Evan Galando who closed out the game in relief of Pulver. "I've been with most of these players for three years and it's fun to be their teammate."

District 7 champion South Highline National's players are Conor Davidson, Tyler Eaton, Evan Galando, David Johnston, Ryan Lafrombois, Gianni Orsillo, Bryce Pulver, Daniel Russell, Darius Saelee, Jared Scott and Joey Urquhart.

SHN is coached by manager Dave Galando and assistant coach Tim Eaton. League president is Lance King. Mike Wydick is the District 7 administrator.

Runnerup West Seattle's player roster includes Austin Hall, Adam Chase, Jeffrey Kasahara, Michael Werlech, Zach Gibson, Riley O'Neil, Alex Parker, David Danilchik, Kyle Van Vleet, Brandon Tyler, David Johnson and Morgan McCullough. Manager O'Neil is assisted by coach Eric Kasahara. Mike Terao is league president.