The Rochelle Little League Junior All-Stars are heading to the 2017 Illinois Little League State Championship.
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MOLINE — The Rochelle Little League Junior All-Stars are heading to the 2017 Illinois Little League State Championship.
Rochelle defeated Moline on Wednesday by a score of 13-9 to finish the District 5 Sub-State Tournament with a 3-1 record and qualify for the state tournament as the No. 2 seed in the district sub-state pool. Olney advanced as the No. 1 seed with a 4-0 record in sub-state play.
The Junior All-Stars trailed early on Wednesday, with Moline taking a 3-0 lead in the second inning and holding Rochelle scoreless until Breccan Berns doubled and scored on a single by Sam Hacaga in the bottom of the third inning. Rochelle’s offense found its rhythm in the fourth inning, as the boys tagged Moline for six runs to jump ahead by a score of 7-3.
Ethan Albers walked to begin the scoring threat in the fourth inning, with Grant Thompson singling before Nolan Morrissette walked and Justin Beck reached on a fielder’s choice. Berns recorded Rochelle’s third walk of the frame, and Hacaga singled soon after to help the Junior All-Stars take the lead.
Mike Schlenbecker drew Rochelle’s fourth walk before Albers singled in his second at-bat of the inning. But Moline struck back in the top of the fifth inning with a six-run effort of its own, and Rochelle found itself trailing 9-7 entering the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Junior All-Stars didn’t back down, though, responding with another six-run frame to take a 13-9 lead before severe weather entered the area in the sixth inning and forced the umpires to call the game. Garrett Burdin began the bottom of the fifth inning with a single before Morrissette recorded his second walk of the game and Beck reached on an error.
Moline failed to find the strike zone in the fifth inning, as Berns, Hacaga and Kyler Lara all reached base consecutively to keep the Rochelle offense going. Albers, Thompson and Nate Askeland each drew walks to reach base as well.
Rochelle will play its first state championship game against Clear Ridge on Tuesday, July 25 at 8 p.m. at Dillon Park in Rock Falls. The winner will face Warren Park on Wednesday, July 26 at 8 p.m.
