A bit of rust and a pinch of nervousness proved to be a rough combination for the Cascade Little League all-stars on Monday at the Little League Softball Western Regional.
Alaska champion Nunaka Valley Little League of Anchorage, took advantage of free passes to beat the host team, 11-1.
Also on Monday, in pool-play games at Fort Vancouver Little League, Oregon beat Utah 9-5, and Arizona defeated Idaho 3-1.
The tournament for girls ages 11-12 continues through Sunday, with the champion advancing to the Little League Softball World Series.
The first pool-play game for Cascade started well enough for the host team. Shaylah Steinborn drew a leadoff walk and scored in the top of the first inning.
But the Alaska champions, who won this regional last summer, scored six runs in the first inning and five more in the second. Nunaka Valley (2-0) had only one hit in the game, but walks and four Cascade errors allowed it to stroll to the victory.
Cascade manager John Harris said a combination of first-game jitters and the three-week layoff since his team had played contributed to Monday’s struggles.
Steinborn had the only hit of the game for Cascade, a single with one out in the third inning.
“We’ll come back and play better,” Harris said.
Cascade faces Southern California champion Burbank (1-0) at 6 p.m. today. There are also games at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Fort Vancouver Little League is on the south side of Mill Plain across from Hudson’s Bay High School. There is no charge for spectators.
Oregon 9, Utah 5 — A seven-run fourth inning lifted Pendleton (1-1) over Snow Valley (0-2). The Oregon champs scored five of those runs with two outs and had four hits in the big inning. Ellie Richards and Riley Litzsinger each had two hits for Pendleton. Natalie Coulam and Skylar Gates each had two hits for Utah.
Arizona 3, Idaho 1 — Elizabeth Bostwick hit a leadoff triple in the third inning and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Amanda Preach as Arizona champion High Desert (1-1) edged Lewiston (0-2).
Haley Weeks had two of Idaho’s four hits, including a double.
Babe Ruth baseball
Northwest Regional (Age 14) — Hazel Dell Metro needed just five innings to post its first win at the tournament in Lewiston, Idaho. HDM defeated Jerome, Idaho, 11-0.
Andrew Free, who was 3 for 3, got things going with a two-run double in the first inning, and Josh Wilkerson capped off the game with an RBI in the fifth to 10-run the Idaho squad.
Jake Lewis drove in two runs with a triple, and James Brooks had two hits.
Alec Dannet and Kaiden Grotte combined on a three-hitter.
HDM’s next pool-play game is Wednesday against the Northern Oregon champion from Tualatin Hills.
The tournament runs through Saturday with the champion advancing to the World Series in Virginia.
