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Poland finishes with 5-4 loss
By Kevin Hudson
PORTLAND, Ore.
8.16.2010 Poland LL World Series
Gallery
2010 World Series of Little League Softball, Poland defeats Canada 7-1.
Poland Community Little League succumbed to a late comeback by Oregon District 4 representative Tigard on Wednesday at Alpenrose Dairy, losing 5-4 to end their appearance in the 2010 Little League Softball World Series.
Oregon won the game by breaking a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs when a passed ball allowed pitcher Emily Sorem to score the winning run.
Poland broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning on an Aleah Hughes’ two-run single, but Oregon answered in the home half, as Tana Baggenstos led off with a single and scored on Dena Emmons double down the left-field line. An infield single and two walks then scored Emmons to tie the score before Poland’s defense turned an inning-ending double play to quell the threat.
The loss secured a fourth-place finish for Poland in the tournament. Despite ending their tournament on a two-game skid including, Tuesday’s 1-0 semifinal loss to defending champion Warner Robins, Ga., manager Chuck Masluk said the team was satisfied with the result and the experience.
“Our goal coming in was to make the final four and we did that,” he said. “We can’t even put into words how proud we are of these girls.”
Coach Dave Marsico echoed the sentiments.
“Losing this consolation game is pretty insignificant when you put it next to the run we made this year and all the amazing things this group accomplished,” he said.
Ally Deemer pitched all six innings for Poland and struck out five batters in the game. She struck out the first three batters she faced before Oregon broke through in the bottom of the second inning as right fielder Alyssa Overcash ripped a one-out triple to deep center field. She was driven home on a two-out single through the right side by center fielder Kalyna Korok for a 1-0 Oregon lead.
Poland got on the board in the top of the fourth inning when Dani Rutana’s two-out double to right-center field scored Arlia Duarte. Rutana gave Poland a 2-1 lead shortly after when she scored on Cara Kalouris’ single down the right-field line.
Oregon evened the score in the home half of the inning when a two-out triple off the right-field wall by Korok scored third baseman Alexa Kaplan, who led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.
Sloppy infield play by Oregon helped the Poland threat in the fifth, as Kristyn Svetlak and Abby Masluk reached on errors for two on with no outs. Sorem earned a strikeout and an infield fly before Hughes sent Sorem’s 1-2 offering back up the middle for a two-RBI single and a 4-2 Poland lead.