Errors trip Poland vs. Kirkland at World Series

Staff report

Kirkland, Wash.

Poland suffered its first loss in the Junior League Softball World Series Tuesday night, with early miscues leading to a 13-5 loss to tournament host Kirkland.

Kirkland scored eight runs in two innings on five Poland errors. Poland finish with six errors in the contest. Poland coach Matt Bobbey said the majority of the mistakes came from misplayed ground balls.

“It lead to some big innings,” Bobbey said. “We also left 14 runners on base. We couldn’t get the big hit. We left a lot on the field.”

Poland is still in control of its World Series destiny in pool play and a No. 1 seed is within reach. There’s three teams besides Poland (2-1) that have two wins. Kirkland (2-2) is done with pool play and Rowan and Hampton are both 2-1. Poland’s first two wins of the series were against Hampton and Rowan, so they own the tiebreaker. All Poland has to do to get a win today against winless IILAM Central to go into bracket play as a one-seed.

Jackie Grisdale hit a three-run double in the first inning to briefly give Poland a 3-2 lead. Camryn Lattanzio and Lexi Diaz each knocked in a run. Brooke Bobbey was 4-for-4 with a run scored.

Bobbey took the loss on the mound. Of the 13 runs scored, only four were earned. She gave up 11 hits and a walk with one strikeout.

Kirkland’s Sasha Mitchell was 4-for-5 including a triple and five RBIs. Haley Brown and Kaci Gordon each collected three RBIs. Gordon’s three RBIs were earned despite getting no hits or walks.

Poland faces IILAM Central today at 3:45 p.m.