Junior League All-Stars rally to defeat Freeport

Russell Hodges
Posted 7/6/17

It took nearly three hours for the Rochelle Little League Junior League All-Star Team to complete its Illinois Little League District 19 Tournament Semifinals against Freeport on Friday, but the purple and white emerged victorious by a final score of 17-7

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Junior League All-Stars rally to defeat Freeport

Posted

ROCHELLE — It took nearly three hours for the Rochelle Little League Junior League All-Star Team to complete its Illinois Little League District 19 Tournament Semifinals against Freeport on Friday, but the purple and white emerged victorious by a final score of 17-7.

Freeport defeated Rock Falls on Thursday to clinch a spot in the semifinal round. Rochelle will advance to the championship round and face either Rock Falls or Freeport on Sunday, with an extra game scheduled for Monday if necessary.

Rochelle struggled to start the game, with Freeport scoring three runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead over the home team. Kyler Lara’s sacrifice fly plated Breccan Berns in the bottom of the first inning for Rochelle’s first run, but both teams would go down quietly in both the second and third innings.

Freeport totaled just four hits in the game, but the team increased its lead to 7-1 with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. That advantage quickly evaporated, though, as Rochelle responded with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to jump ahead 8-7. Sam Hacaga singled to begin the frame, with Garrett Burdin and Nolan Morrissette drawing back-to-back walks to load the bases.

Berns singled to plate two Rochelle runners, and Spencer Warborg reached on an error to keep the team’s offense going. Mike Schlenbecker drew a one-out walk to reach base, and Grant Thompson singled to tie the game at 7-7 before Hacaga reached on an error to help Rochelle take the lead.

Rochelle followed up its seven-run fourth inning with seven more runs in the bottom of the fifth to put Freeport away. Three All-Stars scored at least three times in the win, while eight players crossed home plate at least twice. Rochelle added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game by run limit.

Warborg started on the mound for the Junior League All-Stars, with Morrissette, Burdin, Berns and Lara pitching in relief.