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Poland all-stars in semifinals of World Series
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Claire Testa slides safely into home during the 2010 World Series of Little League Softball in Portland, Ore., August 16th, 2010. The team from Poland, Ohio beat the team from Canada, 7-1, and will advance to Semi-Final play.
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Ally Deemer pitched consistent strikes during the 2010 World Series of Little League Softball in Portland, Ore., August 16th, 2010. The team from Poland, Ohio beat the team from Canada, 7-1, and will advance to Semi-Final play.
Poland all-stars in semifinals of World Series
By Kevin Hudson
PORTLAND, Ore.
When the Southwest champions squeaked by Latin America earlier Monday, the path to the semifinals of the 2010 Little League Softball World Series for Poland Little League — headed into their final game of pool play — was simple.
Win and you’re in.
“We knew what had to be done,” said manager Chuck Masluk. “We just had to play our game and everything would fall into place.”
The team delivered, beating Canada representative Layritz Little League of Victoria, B.C., 7-1, to advance to a semifinal matchup with defending champions Warner Robins, Ga., today at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
“For our girls to make it to a national TV game, I don’t know how many layers of icing that is on the cake but it’s awesome,” Masluk said.
Winless Canada looked primed for the upset early, as pitcher Jenna Saulnier sent Poland hitters down in order in the top of the first. Canada then scored in the home half of the inning when first baseman Alyssa Zicari slapped a soft line drive into shallow right field to score Kaitlyn Tucker for a 1-0 Canada lead.
The lead held until Poland finally broke through in the fourth, as second baseman Claire Testa led off with a single and advanced to third base before scoring on a passed ball to tie the game.
Deemer gained first base on the dropped third strike that allowed Testa to score, then stole second and took third on a passed ball. Aleah Hughes drew a walk and Jenna Schettler legged out an infield single to load the bases with no outs.
After a Saulnier strikeout, Rutana hit a groundball down the first baseline. The throw home wasn’t in time and Deemer scored to give Poland the lead.
“We weren’t nervous,” said Poland coach Dave Marisco. “It typically takes us two times through the order to start scoring our runs.”
Saulnier walked Megan Marisco to force in another run for Poland before earning her seventh strikeout of the game to end the inning. Saulnier finished with 11 strikeouts while allowing five hits and four walks.
Poland tacked on three more in the fifth when Testa reached on an error, then scored on a double to deep left-center field off the bat of Deemer. A Schettler single through the left side and a Canada error stretched the lead to five.
Deemer took care of the rest, holding Canada scoreless after the first inning on her way to 11 strikeouts while surrendering one hit and two walks.
Monday’s games resulted in a three-way tie between Poland, Southwest, and West representative Burbank, Calif., atop Pool A at 3-1.
The first tiebreaker was head-to-head competition and since no team had defeated both other teams the second tiebreaker — runs-allowed ratio — came into play, resulting in the West advancing as the No. 1 seed from the group with a .2917 ratio.
From there, head-to-head records were applied to determine the tiebreaker for the No. 2 seed. Poland had that tiebreaker in its pocket by virtue of the 5-4 win over Southwest in its opener, Thursday.
As to how Poland expects to dethrone defending champion Warner Robins today, Masluk said his message to the team would again be a simple one.
“Just do what we’ve been doing,” he said. “There’s no magic potion or formula, just play our game and we’ll be fine.”
Marisco had an even simpler plan for the semifinal: “Just win baby.”