The first game of the night between CLL and Holbrook was a must-win for both teams in the losers bracket. CLL manager Josh Kroos lamented a “slow start” against Page on Saturday night, but his concerns were allayed when his team took a 7-0 lead after the second inning.

Starter Caleb Smith pitched two perfect innings, striking out four batters. Steele Robinson provided relief and maintained a no-hitter until the end of the fourth inning despite conceding a run in the third inning. CLL scored to make the lead 8-1.

After the game, Kroos said he was satisfied with his team’s performance on the mound throughout the game.

“They know they can throw strikes,” he says. “You don’t have to strike out to get an out. They throw the ball where it should be and bring it in play that we can play and get an out.”

After a scoreless fourth inning, Holbrook made an interesting move in the fifth, giving hitter Brandon Craig the bases loaded with just one out. He hit an RBI single, followed by a two-RBI double off Caden Smith. After the next batter walks, CLL pitcher Brock Rusconi is in trouble. He closed the CLL lead to four with Holbrook putting the bases loaded with one out. Rusconi saved the team with two straight strikeouts to prevent further damage, and the CLL escaped the inning with an 8-4 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, the CLL extended their lead to 11-5 with an RBI single by third baseman Tekoa Lewis and a double RBI triple by Smith. Lewis finished the night with 3 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Smith ran two perfect innings to open the game, allowing two for three, a double, a triple, and three RBIs.

In the CLL, shortstop Austin Close recorded an RBI and a stolen base, going 3 for 3 with 2 singles and 1 double.

The CLL put up a number of impressive defensive plays all night, including a difficult play that kept runners from reaching first base. Close highlighted defense as a key area the team improved throughout the tournament.

“We made three errors on the first night, two of which came in quick succession at the wrong time, and we lost to West Flagstaff,” said the captain. “We knew how to improve defensively. We learned from that first game and have played a lot of games since then to fix that.”

The win put the CLL one game away from a rematch with the WFLL in the Division 1 Championship Game. To get there, the CLL needs to win Silver Creek tonight.

Close’s message on how his team could get there was simple.

“Start early, play hard and take all six innings. [Silver Creek] It brings it,” he said.

However, Silver Creek showed signs of weakness on Wednesday night.

In the nightcap, WFLL got off to a good start against Silver Creek, quickly erasing any chance for drama.

The entire WFLL batting line was at bat in the first inning, recording four singles, a double, a triple, seven stolen bases, and ultimately scoring seven runs. Then starter Brisson Barker kept a clean sheet in the second half of the inning on the mound for a 7-0 lead.

Each of the four pitchers WFLL hired on Wednesday got their own innings and threw eight strikeouts among those four, including a shutout-stopping two-run home run by Silver Creek’s Ziggy Woolberg in the third. Allowed 3 hits in total.

The top of the WFLL line-up put up an impressive fight with Adrian Crockett, Barker and Aven Adams showing dominance. WFLL scored four points each in the second and third innings, leading 15-0 midway through the third inning. Four runs of three gave the hosts an 18-2 lead, which was the final score by the mercy rule.

Despite the team’s burst of attacking power, WFLL manager Shane Barker left a note after the game highlighting the team’s ability on the field.

“I thought our defense was great again,” said Bulkar. “What’s unique about this game is that in the four games we’ve played so far, we haven’t allowed an earned run. That speaks to our pitching and defense.”

The victory keeps WFLL undefeated in the regional tournament and qualifies them for the Championship Finals, which begin at 6pm Friday night. Tonight he will wait for the winner of the CLL vs. Silver Creek match.

“We’ve been playing the sport for a long time, so we know what can happen,” Bruker said. “Everybody can beat you once, much less twice. I think it’s done.”