North Scottsdale (NSLL) Rocketmen used a different formula in the championship game but came away with the same result - another win!  NSLL fell behind to a determined Desert Foothills (DFLL) team 2-0, but NSLL methodically scored 7-runs in the bottom of the 4th inning to take the lead 7-2.  However, this was the same DFLL team that earlier in the week, during semi-final play, was down to its last 2 outs and trailed 10-0 before scoring 12-runs in one inning to win the game. In this game, DFLL scored 2 in the top of the 5th to shrink the NSLL lead to 7-4.  In the top of the 6th, DFLL scored yet another run to make the score 7-5 and DFLL still had the bases loaded.  The Rocketmen, which went a perfect 7-0 during this tournament, would not let this one slip away and extinguished the DFLL comeback and hopes.

NSLL won its 8th District 6 Little League Championship -- all since 1993.  It was their 6th in the last 11 years.  The Rocketmen will represent D6 at the State Tournament that will be held in Peoria starting on July 20th.

North Scottsdale (NSLL) extended their winning streak to 6 games with a 5-0 victory over Desert Foothills (DFLL).  DFLL's record fell to 5-1.  More significantly, NSLL is just one win away from the district title.  For DFLL, it is "win or go home" time. The two teams play next on Thursday, July 9th at 7:30 PM at Scottsdale Ranch Park.  Should DFLL tie up the best 2 out of 3 final series, the rubber match will be Friday, July 10th at 7:30 PM.

Last year McDowell Mountain (MMLL) eliminated North Scottsdale (NSLL) in the semi-final round.  This year, NSLL returned the favor and eliminated MMLL with a 13-0 victory.

In the other semi-final match-up, Desert Foothills (DFLL) beat McCormick Ranch (MRLL) 6-4 to advance to the championship round. 

Both DFLL and NSLL have reached this year's finals without losing a game along the way with each team winning 5 games.  From a historical standpoint, NSLL has won more District 6 championships than any other league -- 7 championships --and has won 5 in the last 10 years.  DFLL has won the championship once in its relatively short history (10-years) but can you guess which team it beat???  Yes, they defeated NSLL in 2003.

The two teams will face-off in game 1 tonight, July 8th, at 7:30 PM at Scottsdale Ranch Park.

The early game featured Desert Foothills (DFLL) and McCormick Ranch (MRLL).  MRLL jumped out to an early lead and ultimately scored their 10th run in the top of the 5th inning to take a 10-0 lead over DFLL.  MRLL was dominating and with one out in the bottom of the 5th, MRLL's lead was still 10-0 and things were looking bleak for DFLL.  Then in one of those turn-arounds that makes Little League special, DFLL went on to score 12 runs in the bottom of the 5th inning which was capped by a grand-slam home run.  The final score was DFLL 12 and MRLL 10.  DFLL leads their best of 3 semi-final series 1-0.

The late game had McDowell Mountain (MMLL) and North Scottsdale (NSLL) meeting up in the other semi-final series.  NSLL jumped out to 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning and never looked back.  NSLL went on to win 12-1 in a 4-inning game.  NSLL leads their best of 3 semi-final series 1-0.

NSLL will play MMLL at 5:30 PM and DFLL will play MRLL at 7:30 on Tuesday, July 7th.

Desert Foothills (DFLL), McCormick Ranch (MRLL), McDowell Mountain (MMLL), and North Scottsdale (NSLL) advanced to the playoff round. The teams will return to action on Monday, July 6th at 5:30 PM (bracket can be downloaded by clicking on the headline above). 

Coming in to the night's play, DFLL and NSLL were assured of advancing regardless of the outcome of their respective games. Both achieved 3-0 records in pool play with DFLL beating Arcadia (ARLL) 4-2 and NSLL beating Fountain Hills 11-10.

MRLL and MMLL both needed victories last night to make it out of pool play. MRLL had their destiny in their own hands as the victor in their game versus East Scottsdale was going to advance. MRLL won 10-0.

MMLL not only needed to win to advance, which it did with a 7-4 win over Mountain View (MVLL), but they needed some help from DFLL.  With the DFLL win over ARLL, there were three teams with identical win-loss records of 1-2; ARLL, MMLL, and MVLL. In such ties, head-to-head record is the first tie-breaker.  However, none of the 3-teams had beaten the other two teams.  The next tie-breaker is runs allowed ratio. This ratio is calculated by dividing the number runs a team allowed to score by the number of defensive innings it played.  MMLL's 1.200 runs allowed ratio was the lowest of the 3-teams thus allowing them to advance.

DFLL will play MRLL at 5:30 PM and NSLL will play MMLL at 7:30 on Monday, July 6th.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July!

Desert Foothills remained unbeaten in Pool A by edging McDowell Mountain (MMLL) 2-1.  MMLL's record fell to 0-2.  North Scottsdale (NSLL) was the only other unbeaten team as it improved its record to 2-0 in Pool B.  NSLL beat East Scottsdale (ESLL) as ESLL's record fell to 1-1.

Mountain View (MVLL) and Arcadia (ARLL) reversed their respective directions as MVLL beat ARLL.  They both now have 1-1 records. McCormick Ranch (MRLL) improved its record to 1-1 by beating Fountain Hills 6-3.

Last night at Scottsdale Ranch Park, Arizona District 6 teams took their first step to Williamsport and the Little League World Series.  An updated bracket can be downloaded by clicking the headline above.