The WFLL won the Arizona District 1 title at Continental Park on Friday, beating city rivals Continental Little League 16-1 in overwhelming style. As an undefeated team in the double elimination bracket, they only needed to win one championship round match to clinch the title.

WFLL poses with the district championship flag pic.twitter.com/HOeNSp81Z1

— Eric Newman (@enewmanwrites) July 8, 2023

The reward is a short trip to the state tournament in Flagstaff. Success in this spot will allow them to qualify for regional competitions and, if the WFLL achieves historic results, qualify for the Little League World Series.

WFLL manager Shane Barker said, “I think we can beat anyone with our defense and pitching.” “We’re not going to lose.

WFLL’s bats are hot, with each of the 12 hitters reaching base at least once during the contest. The performance of the team, especially in the lower ranks, is remarkable.

No. 11 Murph Keck led the league with 3-for-3, 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored. No. 8 hitter Ben Klontz went 3-for-3 with 3 runs and 1 RBI.

Most of WFLL’s production came out of small ball play. Michael Rodriguez and Adrian Crockett both hit RBI doubles in different places, but all the other runs came from singles, passed balls from the CLL, and aggressive on-base running. It was an offensive style that Burkal was proud of.

“We preached accountability in their at-bats. Our kids did a good job of pitching more and getting the ball into the outfield, and we ran good bases, so The players were able to score from second base,” he said.

CLL’s Austin Close scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the first inning to give his team a temporary 1-0 lead.

WFLL never looked back, returning three runs in the top of the second to take a 3-1 lead. Drake Shafor extended the lead to 4-1 with a RBI hit in the top of the third. WFLL then added four more in the next frame and he went ahead 8-1 after four innings.

Meanwhile, WFLL’s Brisson Barker was on the mound running through the game. He allowed no hits and no runs until the bottom of the fifth inning, allowing one hit and one run.

But CLL kept making it interesting in places. CLL made the bases loaded with two outs. Meanwhile, Shane Barker had to drag his son off the mound after Brisson hit his pitch limit. Carson Abbey came on as a reliever and took a clutch strikeout.

“It was 8-1 and the 11-year-old came on in that situation and attacked. Barker said.

WFLL got out of trouble and scored another 8 runs in the top of the 6th inning to blow the game away. Abby went clean in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.

The West Flagstaff Little League win the District 1 Major League Championship with a 16-1 win over city rivals in the Continental Little League pic.twitter.com/pywcKKkFXv

— Eric Newman (@enewmanwrites) July 8, 2023

The loss ends the CLL’s regional tournament and season. Despite the disappointing loss, CLL manager Josh Kroos was proud of his team’s efforts.

WFLL defeated CLL in the opening match of the tournament on June 28, and since then won six straight elimination games to advance to the championship round.

“Hats off to West Flagstaff. They are well coached and are doing great things. I’ve been fighting all week and I can’t ask for anything more,” Close said.

The end of this run is also Close’s last kid in a Little League All-Star Game going back several years. He watched his four children in Close (three in baseball, one in softball) go through the system and appreciates what his family has gone through in the process. .

“It’s been great. I can’t believe this is our last kid’s 12th year. We’re looking at playing intermediates where they’re not going straight to juniors, but what does the future hold for Continental? If it’s not there, it’s a travel ball, middle school and high school are right there,” he said.

WFLL will be the de facto organizers of state tournaments starting July 17th. The competition will be in Flagstaff for the first time in over a decade. Josh Close wanted to play for State again, but he’s excited Flagstaff has a next-level home team.

“We are delighted to have West Flagstaff represent Flagstaff in the tournament,” he said. “We have local kids at the tournament. It’s going to be incredible.

WFLL will face the winner of the District 3 tournament on July 17th in the first round.