By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
WILLIAMSPORT–The Great Lakes stranded six runners over the final two innings of its game against the Midwest.
Once in extra innings, it wasn’t going to happen again.
Isaiah Head opened with a double before two walks and a single started a rally.
The Great Lakes scored six runs before an out was even made as it defeated the Midwest 14-4 in the first extra-inning game of the 2016 Little League World Series.
The Great Lakes posted seven hits in the top of the seventh and took advantage of six walks to score 11 runs.
Spencer Newman hit a double in the top of the first, but was stranded when John Guthrie flew out to left field and Turner Nottmeier grounded out to third.
Newman opened the fifth with a single and scored on a wild pitch from Michael Siemer.
The Great Lakes loaded the bases, but only managed to score one run on a wild pitch.
The Great Lakes stranded six runners over the final two inning before scoring 11 in the first extra inning.
Carson Myers opened the second with a single, but was stranded after a strikeout and 5-4-3 double play ended the inning. Myers opened the fourth inning with a single and scored when a double and fielder’s choice brought him around the bases.
Myers put together a streak of six consecutive outs that stretched through the second, third, and fourth innings. Over the run Myers fanned five batters. The steak came to an end when Myers hit Payton Newhouse, who came on as a pinch-hitter.
The Midwest immediately took advantage, scoring two runs on a single and two base error to take a 3-2 lead over Great Lakes.
Kaiden Dinh made a play of his own in the third when he slid across his knees to snag a grounder and get the lead runner at third for the inning’s first out. He fielded a second grounder with the bases loaded and got the runner as he headed for home to keep the Midwest in front 1-0.
A wild pitch eventually brought home Devin Obee, who reached on Dinh’s nifty play to get Drew Wolfram at third.
The Midwest scored its first run when Owen Dawson reached on a five-pitch walk. He advanced on second on an error and reached third and home one wild pitches to give the Midwest a 1-0 lead over the Great Lakes.
The one run advantage wouldn’t hold as a hit batter and two walks opened the door for Devin Obee to score in the third.
Great Lakes 14, Midwest 4 (7 innings)
GL 001 110 (11)-14 12 1
MW 010 200 1-4 7 0
Carson Myers, Isaiah Head (3), Jackson Moore (7), and Drew Wolfram. Kaiden Dinh, Josh Larson (2), Michael Siemer (4), Tyler Moore (5), JT Garcia (5), Sam Hennes (7), and Owen Dawson.
WP: Head. LP: Siemer.
Top Great Lakes hitters: Spencer Newman 4-5, 2 2B, 2 runs, 4 RBI. Top Midwest hitters: Miles Risley 1-3, run, RBI.
Records: Great Lakes 2-0. Midwest 1-1.
