Mill Creek, Wash (Northwest)., topped Jeffersonville, Ind (Great Lakes)., 3-2 in seven innings on Tuesday. The win, which was Mill Creek’s second straight after dropping its Little League World Series opener on Saturday to Lake Charles, La. (Southwest), earns it a spot in Wednesday’s single-elimination world quarterfinals. Mill Creek will face Waipahu, Hawaii (West) which went 3-0 in winning Pool B.

“It’s unbelievable to get to the (U.S.) semis,” Mill Creek pitcher Jason Todd said. “We’re going to be going up against a good team in Hawaii. It’s a great feeling to know that you’re moving on in the Little League World Series.” “We’re happy to be going on,” Mill Creek coach Scott Mahlum said. “We wanted to win or we didn’t want to play tomorrow. I didn’t want to back-door (into the quarterfinals).”

!http://community.active.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/38-20747/GL-NW.jpg?blogID=8913&blogPostID=9707|height=303|style=padding:8px;|align=left|width=327|src=http://community.active.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/38-20747/GL-NW.jpg?blogID=8913&blogPostID=9707!Alex Jondal was the Mill Creek hero on Tuesday. Down 2-1 in the fifth, Jondal hit an RBI single to plate Todd – who had doubled – to tie the game at two. In extra innings, Jondal hit a two-out, two-strike single over the head of Jeffersonville left fielder Brad Koerner to score Todd again, this time ending the game with the 3-2 victory. “I was thinking I needed to shorten up my swing with two strikes,” Jondal said of his game-winning RBI. “The past two games I haven’t done great, but I finally got into a hitting rhythm today. I was ecstatic. (I’ll) remember this for the rest of (my) life. It was great.”

Jeffersonville had its chances to advance. Like it did against Hagerstown, Md. (Mid-Atlantic), in its opener, Jeff led 2-1 after four-and-a-half innings, but couldn’t hold on. “We’re playing against the best teams in the United States,” Jeffersonville coach Derek Ellis said. “A bad pitch here and a blunder there, that will bite you against teams that are this good. You’re able to go that at state or at a regional. Here, you can’t give extra outs.”

Like he did against Hagerstown, Jeffersonville ace Drew Ellis had another great performance. After throwing a no-hitter in the loss to the Maryland champions, Ellis allowed just two runs on five hits against a Mill Creek team that scored 15 runs against Hagerstown on Monday. Ellis also struck out seven Mill Creek batters.

“I thought he did a great job,” Coach Ellis said. “He held those guys to one run. I’m very proud of what he did. He did a great job.”

Todd finished the game 2-for-3 with a game-tying home run in the bottom of the first inning. He scored all three of Mill Creek’s runs. Todd also pitched 5.2 solid innings, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out 11 Jeffersonville batters. “Jason battled out there,” Mahlum said. “He didn’t have his best stuff, but he threw a great game.” “He’s a pretty dogone good pitcher,” Coach Ellis said. “He has a nice curve ball and he throws it hard.”

Coach Ellis said that despite the winless trip to Williamsport, his league’s first trip since 1965 was far from a waste. “The kids are in good spirits,” Ellis said. “How could you not be after an experience like this? They battled hard. I’m extremely proud of those guys. It’s a memory I will never, ever forget. I’m sure it will hit me (in the future) what these kids have accomplished. Not many kids can say that they have played in the Little League World Series. These kids will always be associated with that.”

*BOX SCORE

Jeffersonville, Ind. 110 000 0 – 2 6 3

Mill Creek, Wash. 100 010 1 – 3 7 1*

  W – Alec Kisena (1-0). L – Christopher Wenger (0-2). 2B – Josh Burke (J), Drew Ellis (J), Jason Todd (MC). 3B – Austin Hines (J). HR – Todd (MC).

  Pool A Records – Jeffersonville 0-3, Mill Creek 2-1.

Abby Contini of Dover, Ohio, will be recognized during the Little League Baseball World Series as the 2008 Little League Mom of the Year.


“My Mom should be the Little League Mom of the Year because of her commitment and dedication to our league,” Mrs. Contini’s son, Cory wrote when nominating his mother. “She is the assistant treasurer of our league, the secretary for my team, and runs our concession stand. She does all this and still finds time to be the best mom in the world.”

The Little League Mom of the Year Award was established in 1991 as a symbolic form of recognition and tribute to the millions of mothers in communities around the world who contribute their time to the Little League program.

!http://community.active.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/38-20657/AbbyContini_Mom-of-the-Year.jpg?blogID=8913&blogPostID=9678|height=146|style=padding:8px;|align=left|width=146|src=http://community.active.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/38-20657/AbbyContini_Mom-of-the-Year.jpg?blogID=8913&blogPostID=9678!“This year’s Mom of the Year truly represents the majority of Little League Moms,” Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball, said. “Responsible, dedicated and unassuming in tending to her tasks for Dover (Ohio) Little League, Abby Contini is the quintessential Little League volunteer because others notice and appreciate her commitment before she does. Her efforts have had a profound influence on her son, his team and their league, and Little League International is pleased to honor her with this special award.”

Each year, Little League players are invited to compose an essay that explains why their mothers should be the Little League Mom of the Year. From that group, one Little League mother is selected. Mrs. Contini will receive the award at the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pa., scheduled for Aug. 15-24.

“Abby has been a great asset to Dover Little League,” Paul Monaco, Dover Little League President, said. “I’ve know her for 18 years, and she does whatever needs to be done for the league. We were pleased to hear that Cory nominated Abby, because the whole family is deeply involved in our program. I know she enjoys watching her son play, but she is always there to do things to help the league.”

With six runs in the top of the first extra inning, Tampa, Fla.(Southeast), earned a berth in Wednesday’s single-elimination quarterfinal round with an 8-2 victory over Shelton, Conn (New England). Tampa, who will likely face Lake Charles, La. (Southwest), Wednesday, got a game-tying one-out home run from Kevin Merrell in the top of the sixth before exploding in the seventh.

“(Merrell’s) home run was the biggest hit of the game,” Tampa coach Joe Maguire said. “We don’t get the rest if we don’t get that one. After he hit the home run, going into the next inning I knew we were in good shape.” Danny Lastra opened the top of the sixth with his first home run of the Little League World Series and that opened the flood gates. “The way this team is, when one guy gets something started, they all get going,” Maguire said.

Ryan and Austin McCullers each had RBI doubles, followed by home runs by Brett Wilkosz and Merrell to cap things off. “The kids knew (this could have been it),” Maguire said. “They knew this could be their last game together. Tampa jumped on top when Merrell doubled and scored on a Lastra single. Merell finished 3-for-4 with two runs and two knocked in. Lastra was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run. “(Merrell) has been playing with a hamstring injury for the last month,” Maguire said. “I give him credit for even being out there.”

Levi Gilcrease came in for Wyatt Reid, who pitched 4.1 solid innings, and picked up his second victory of the LLWS. Darren Miller pitched the seventh for his second save.“He’s got fight. He’s got a mean streak,” Maguire said of Gilcrease. “He’ll challenge anybody. He wanted to start today.” Shelton goes home with a 1-2 record, but nearly pulled off the upset after opening the LLWS with a 3-1 loss to Waipahu, Hawaii.

*BOX SCORE

Tampa, Fla. 000 101 6 – 8 10 0

Shelton, Conn. 000 110 0 – 2 7 0*

  W – Levi Gilcrease (2-0). L – Tyler Tice (0-2). S – Darren Miller (2). 2B – Kevin Merrell (T), Anthony Searles (S), Ryan McCullers (T), Austin McCullers (T). HR – Merrell (T) 2, Danny Lastra (T), Brett Wilkosz (T).

*Pool A Records *– Tampa 2-1, Shelton 1-2.

Two days after scoring just one run on three hits, Mill Creek, Wash. (Northwest), showed the why it had a reputation as a high-powered offense in its 15-5 win over Hagerstown, Md (Mid-Atlantic). Mill Creek scored its 15 runs on 16 hits and eight extra base hits, including two home runs by Alec Kisena. Jason Todd and Alek Baumgartner also homered for Mill Creek, which is now 1-1 in Pool A play and just needs a victory over winless Jeffersonville, Ind., to advance to the next round.

!http://community.active.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/38-20643/save-at-home.jpg?blogID=8913&blogPostID=9674|style=padding:8px;|align=right|src=http://community.active.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/38-20643/save-at-home.jpg?blogID=8913&blogPostID=9674!“The bats came alive,” Mill Creek coach Scott Mahlum understated. “I’m very, very proud of these guys. That was our biggest fear after the first game, that we weren’t going to show people what we’re capable of. I’m very happy the guys responded, especially in a do-or-die game like today.” “Sometimes good teams just beat good team,” Hagerstown coach Bill Abeles said. “They did exactly what they wanted to do and we gave them a couple of extra outs (with errors). I have to hand it to them, they took it to us.”

Kisena went 2-for-3 and knocked home five runs. Both of his home runs came on two-strike counts. “I’m a good two-strike hitter,” Kisena admitted. Todd – the likely starting pitcher against Jeffersonville on Tuesday – went 4-for-4 with a homer, two double, four RBI and three runs scored in the win. “I knew I had to be at my best because I knew this could be our last (chance),” Todd said.

Entering the game, both teams had struggled offensively in pool play. In their first games combined, Mill Creek and Hagerstown combined for just three hits. On Monday, the two sides combined for 11 runs on 12 hits – in the first two innings. “We knew we had to come out strong and put up some good numbers,” Todd said.

The difference in the game was the relief pitching of Mill Creek. While Mill Creek scored seven runs in the seventh inning to break the game open, Mill Creek relievers surrendered just one run on three hits. Joakim Soderqvist, who struck out the side in both of his innings and got Mill Creek out of a bases-loaded jam in the second. “He was huge,” Mahlum said. Hagerstown needs a win over unbeaten Lake Charles, La., on Tuesday and some help from Jeffersonville to advance.

All four teams in Pool A are still alive for a berth in Wednesday’s single-elimination quarterfinal round.

*BOX SCORE

Mill Creek, Wash. 521 070 – 15 16 2

Hagerstown, Md. 310 100 – 5 7 1*

  W – Derrick Mahlum (1-0). L – Zane Schreiber (0-1). S – Alex Jondal (1). 2B – Jason Todd (MC) 2, Dan Kingma (MC), Jondal (MC). HR – Alec Kisena (MC) 2, Andrew Yacyk (H), Jason Todd (MC), Alek Baumgartner (MC).

Pool A Records – Mill Creek 1-1, Hagerstown 1-1.