The Elma 50/70 Intermediate Little League team, representing the state of Washington, is undefeated in pool play after a pair of victories at the West Region Tournament in Nogales, Arizona.

West Regional Intermediate Tournament

Pool Play Game One

Elma (Washington) 24, Peccole (Nevada) 3

Elma’s Intermediate state-champion all-star team opened its Little League West Region Tournament pool play with a 24-3 rout over Peccole Little League (Las Vegas, Nevada) on Wednesday in Nogales, Arizona.

Elma showed no signs of the big-stage jitters by scoring seven runs in the top of the first.

After leadoff hitter Grahm Rupe and Connor Olson started the game with back-to-back singles, Izaiah Clarkston put Elma up 2-0 with a bases-clearing triple.

Clarkston later came home on a wild pitch followed by a Logan Rothmeyer single to plate Falen Verville, who was on board with a walk.

After a walk to Tyler Tobey, Darwin Borts singled to drive in Rupe for a 5-0 lead.

Tobey scored Elma’s sixth run on an attempted double steal followed by an error to allow Parker Anensen to come home for a 7-0 advantage.

Elma added four runs in the second, highlighted by an RBI single from Clarkston, and – after Peccole scored a pair of runs in the third – scored three in the fourth highlighted by an Olson two-run single.

Up 14-3 in the top of the fifth, Elma erupted for 10 runs on six hits – including a two-run double by Maycinn Crawford – two walks, an error and a hit batter.

Four Eagles pitchers combined to allow three earned runs on just one hit and six walks while striking out 10 in the victory.

Clarkston started for Elma, picking up the win after striking out all six batters he faced on just 24 pitches in throwing a perfect two innings.

Olson (3-4, 3R, 5RBI) and Rothmeyer (3-4, 3B, 2R, 3RBI) led Elma with three hits apiece.

Elma’s offense had 16 hits as a team, with 10 of 13 Elma players collecting a hit in the game.

Elma 740 3(10) – 24 16 1

Peccole 002 10 – 3 1 9

WP – Clarkston (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 6K). LP – Henson (1.1 IP, 11R, 8ER, 8H, 3BB).

Leading hitters: Elma – Olson (3-4, 3R, 5RBI, SB); Rothmeyer (3-4, 3B, 2R, 3RBI, SB); Borts (2-2, R, 2RBI); Clarkston (2-3, 3B, 3R, 2RBI, 3SB); Crawford (1-3, 2B, R, 2RBI); Rupe (1-3, 4R, 2SB); Tobey (1-3, 2R, RBI, 2SB); Anensen (1-2, 2R); Peterson (1-3, 2R, RBI).

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Pool Play Game Two

Elma (Washington) 10, Abbott-O-Rabbit (Alaska) 8

A big inning late in the game turned out to be the difference in Elma’s 10-8 win over Abbot-O-Rabbit Little League (Anchorage, Alaska) in pool play of the Little League West Region Tournament on Friday in Nogales, Arizona.

In a game that featured four lead changes, Elma found itself locked in a 5-5 tied heading into the later innings.

Elma took the lead for good with five runs in the bottom of the fifth, capped by a clutch two-run triple off the bat of Grahm Rupe to put Elma up 10-5.

Alaska responded with three runs on four hits in the top of the sixth, with an Alaska runner being thrown out at home to end the frame.

In the seventh, Elma reliever Logan Rothmeyer worked around a one-out double to get a ground out followed by a strikeout to earn the save and keep Elma unbeaten in pool play.

Rupe picked up the victory, allowing five earned runs on five hits with a strikeout and a walk in two innings pitched.

Elma was outhit by Alaska 11-7, but drew eight walks against an erratic Alaska pitching staff.

Rupe, Rothmeyer and starting pitcher Isaiah Clarkston (4 IP, 3R, ER, 5H, 6K, BB) combined to allow just two walks while striking out nine Alaska batters in the game.

Seven different Elma players had a hit in the game, with no player recording a multi-hit game.

Elma takes on Northern Lights Little League (Thornton, Colorado) at noon on Saturday.

AOR 020 123 0 – 8 11 1

Elma 102 250 x – 10 7 4

WP – Rupe (2 IP, 5R, 5ER, 5H, K, BB). LP – n/a. SV – Rothmeyer (IP, 0R, H, 2K).

Leading hitters: Elma – Clarkston (1-2, 3B, R, 2RBI); Rupe (1-2, 3B, R, 2RBI); Borts (1-1, R); Anensen (1-2, R); Branscomb (1-1, 2R); Peterson (1-2, RBI).