Elma’s run toward a potential state title hit a wall on Thursday after a 14-0 five-inning loss to powerhouse Bellevue National at the Little League Intermediate State Tournament at Lloyd Murrey Park in Elma.
The matchup featured the two remaining unbeaten teams in the 10-team tournament, but it was Bellevue National that quickly asserted its will.
Bellevue wasted little time putting Elma behind as the first five batters reached base in the top of the first on four hits and a walk, to take a 4-0 lead.
After a bloop single to shallow right field by Blaine Richardson put runners at first and third, an Elma drop on a fly ball to the outfield led to Bellevue National’s fifth run of the frame.
Elma starting pitcher Troy Rupe then got Ben Haufe to pop out to Brysten Crawford at third followed by a strikeout of Zach Diaz to end the half-inning.
Bellevue National would tack on to its lead from there with a pair of two-out runs in the second, capped by an RBI double to the right-center field wall from Carlo DeJesus.
Nearing his pitch limit entering the third inning, Rupe struck out Diaz and blew what was arguably his best heater of the game past Thomas Lopez to get two outs in the frame before leaving the mound in favor of reliever Hunter Young, who walked Alex Lee before getting Jory Goodwin to ground out to Jordan Lisle at second to record Elma’s only scoreless inning of the contest.
Bellevue would put the game into mercy-rule territory the following inning. Ryota Suzuki led off the frame with a solo home run over the right-center field fence and was followed by the next six hitters reaching base on an error, a walk, a single and three straight hit batters. A base hit by Diaz drove in Ty Marcum to put Bellevue up 14-0.
Bellevue starting pitcher Leland Chen did the rest, striking out the Elma side in the bottom of the fifth to secure the victory and send Bellevue National into the championship round, where it will need to win just one of a potential two games to win the double-elimination tournament and advance to the World Series in Arizona.
Chen picked up the win with a dominant performance. The right-hander mixed a fastball, a devastating curveball and the occasional change-up to keep Elma’s potent offense – which had scored 25 total runs in its two previous victories – to no runs on just one hit, a leadoff single to Crawford in the second.
Chen struck out 10 and didn’t walk a batter in an efficient 65-pitch outing.
With the loss, Elma will face District 8 champion RUG-Ballard – which eliminated Mill Creek with a 14-6 win on Thursday – in a win-or-go-home loser’s bracket final at 5 p.m. Friday.
The winner will advance to Saturday’s championship round against Bellevue National, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.
Bellevue National 521 06x – 14 11 0
Elma 000 00x – 0 1 3
Leading hitters: Bellevue National – Suzuki (2-3, HR, 3 R); Chen (1-3, R); Peterson (1-2, 2 R); Lopez (1-2, 2B, 2 R); Richardson (2-3, R); Rindy (1-2, 3 R); Marcum (1-3, R); DeJesus (2-3, 2B); Diaz (1-3); Lee (1-2); Goodwin (0-2, R). Elma – Crawford (1-2).
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Bellevue National starting pitcher Leland Chen struck out 10 and allowed just one hit in a 14-0 five-inning victory over Elma at the Little League Intermediate State Tournament on Thursday in Elma.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma right fielder Gavin Muir (22) charges in to make a catch during a14-0 loss to Bellevue National at the Little League Intermediate State Tournament on Thursday in Elma.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Bellevue National’s Ryota Suzuki (1) is congratulated by Leland Chen after hitting a leadoff home run in the fifth inning of a 14-0 win over Elma at the Little League Intermediate State Tournament on Thursday in Elma.
