The ANSLL 11-12 American team traveled to SYA West and came home with a hard
fought 8-5 victory on Thursday to advance to the "Final 6" in the District
10 tournament.  Video highlights at the end of this article.

While the final score doesn't show it - this was a real pitcher's duel!

ANSLL got hits by Ryan Rossum, Andrew Santaniello and Ryan Kane in the first
two innings, but left 2 men on each time.  In the 3rd, Jackson Boehman led
off with a hit and advanced to 3b on a couple pitches in the dirt.  With one
out, Kerry Reed scored Jackson on a high chopper to second and ANSLL had a
1-0 lead.

Ryan Rossum kept the SYA hitters off balance all night.  After a leadoff
double and a walk, he settled down and got out of the first with the help of
2 plays by 2b Jacob Eisner.  Rossum stranded 2 more in the second and
cruised through the 3rd and it was 1-0 ANSLL halfway through.

Kyle Goettlicher ripped a double to lead off the 4th, but got no further
than 3rd and C Tyler Choate's 2 out smash up the middle was played nicely
into the final out.

Bottom 4 things went the other way.  With 2 out, SYA finally got something
going on a hit batter and a single.  Then, the #9 SYA hitter roped a 2
strike double to center field fence, scoring both runners and SYA had their
first lead 2-1 after 4.

ANSLL battled right back to get the lead back in top 5th as Eisner legged out
an infield hit, Boehman moved him up with a ground out and then Christian
Firaben's hit scored Eisner to tie it at 2.  Kerry Reed followed with a
double, scoring pinch runner Grant Thompson, and ANSLL had the lead back,
3-2 heading to bottom 5.

Rossum made quick work with the middle of the order, and after the 1-2-3, 5th,
it was 3-2 heading to the final frame.

The SYA closer looked unhittable when he entered to close out the 5th, but
ANSLL got in going in the 6th.  Ryan Krogel drew a walk to start it off, and
Ryan Kane singled.  With 1 out, Eisner got a solid hit and then Jackson
Boehman drew a walk.  Firaben again came through with a hit, setting the
stage for Reed's drive into the RF corner for a 2 run double and ANSLL had
stretched it to 8-2.

SYA didn't go quietly in the final frame with a leadoff triple and a single
to make it 8-3.  After a K, the next batter smashed a homer to rcf and it
was suddenly 8-5 and the tension was back.  The next batter hit a squibbler
towards second base and SS Ryan Kane barehanded it on the other side of 2b
and gunned the runner out on an excellent play.  That was it for Rossum, who
finished the day yielding only 8 hits.  Ryan Kane came in 3 pitches (and a
strikeout) later, ANSLL had held on for an 8-5 win!

Video highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beJg6rVWg4s

Next game - ANSLL hosts Coles at Pine Ridge, 2pm on Sat 7/11!