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.