All-Stars eke out win, advance to district finals

BLYTHE - The Yuma Little League 11-12-year-old All-Stars moved one victory away from the state tournament with Tuesday's 7-6 win over Kingman South in seven innings.

Yuma (3-0) will play in the championship of the double-elimination District 9 All-Star Tournament on Friday in Blythe. A second game, if needed, would be Saturday.

Kingman (2-1) tied the game at 6 in the top of fifth and when Yuma could not score in the bottom of the sixth the game went to the extra inning.

Kingman intentionally walked Yuma's best hitters throughout the game and did the same in the seventh. With two outs and the bases loaded, Yuma's Donovan Rooks hit a sharp grounder that was bobbled by the second baseman, allowing the winning run to score.

Reliever Grant Easley pitched two scoreless innings to get the win.

Adan Vega hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. Zack Boller added a solo shot in the same inning to put Yuma up 3-0. Those were the last swings each took for the rest of the game as Kingman intentionally walked seven Yuma batters.

Yuma never trailed in the game and led 6-4 heading into the fifth inning.

"Humongous win," manager Roger Varela said. "It looked like we had everything against us. The walking. They just walked all of my best hitters which made it really difficult. In the end, the kids battled and pulled through."