The Rochelle Little League 10-11 Boys All-Star team dominated its two-game series with Sterling this week, winning both games to earn the District 19 Championship and advance to the Sub-State Pool B Championship beginning Friday, July 20 in Streamwood.
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ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Little League 10-11 Boys All-Star team dominated its two-game series with Sterling this week, winning both games to earn the District 19 Championship and advance to the Sub-State Pool B Championship beginning Friday, July 20 in Streamwood. Rochelle took down Sterling by a score of 29-2 in Game 1 on Wednesday before winning over Sterling by a score of 18-2 in Game 2 on Thursday.
Game 1
Rochelle exploded in the top of the first inning, scoring 13 runs to take a 13-0 lead over Sterling. Ethan Goodwin singled before Grant Gensler reached on a hit-by-pitch and Elijah Harley hit a three-run homer inside the park. Brandyn Metzger and Carson Lewis slapped back-to-back doubles and Dalton Merriman tripled to keep the Rochelle offense going.
Brode Metzger reached on an error before Kaiden Morris hit an RBI groundout and Xavier Villalobos singled. Goodwin walked and Gensler singled before Harley walked, Brandyn doubled and Lewis walked. Merriman and Brode singled soon after.
Sterling fought back slightly with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but Rochelle poured more on in the top of the second inning, scoring 12 runs to take a 25-2 lead. Villalobos, Goodwin and Gensler hit three straight singles before Harley walked and Brandyn doubled. Rochelle rallied off five straight singles afterward courtesy of Lewis, Merriman, Brode, Morris and Villalobos.
Goodwin doubled and Gensler singled to keep Rochelle going, and Elias Koonce added an RBI groundout before Van Gerber tripled and Lewis doubled. Rochelle scored four runs in the top of the third inning after Breydan Andrews reached on an error, Morris and Villalobos singled and Goodwin reached on an error. Koonce and Lewis each singled as well.
Game 2
Rochelle jumped on Sterling early with seven runs in the top of the second inning to go ahead 7-0. Brode and Morris hit back-to-back singles, and Koonce hit an RBI groundout before Andrews reached on a fielder’s choice to plate Merriman. Villalobos walked and Lewis singled before Harley and Brandyn slapped back-to-back singles. Brode and Morris then reached on errors.
Sterling scored twice in the bottom of the second inning, but Rochelle added three more runs in the top of the third inning to lead 10-2. Gerber reached on an error, and both Goodwin and Gensler reached on errors before Harley singled.
Rochelle capped off its win with eight runs in the top of the fourth inning. Merriman walked to begin the offensive outburst, and Koonce reached on a dropped third strike before Andrews walked and Rochelle recorded six consecutive singles from Goodwin, Gensler, Harley, Brandyn, Brode and Merriman.
Koonce, Brode, Harley and Brandyn combined to pitch for Rochelle, holding Sterling to just three hits. The boys combined for eight strikeouts.
