After pulling off the first upset of the 2017 Rochelle Little League Major League Boys Tournament this past week, No. 3 seed Kiwanis Club scored three runs in the first inning against No. 1 seed VFW in Game 1 of the Championship Series Monday evening.
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ROCHELLE — After pulling off the first upset of the 2017 Rochelle Little League Major League Boys Tournament this past week, No. 3 seed Kiwanis Club scored three runs in the first inning against No. 1 seed VFW in Game 1 of the Championship Series Monday evening.
But the early deficit wasn’t enough to scare the top-ranked team, and VFW took advantage of some Kiwanis Club miscues to win the game by a final score of 13-6. VFW takes a 1-0 series lead with the victory, and the No. 1 seed could claim the championship with a win on Tuesday.
Two of Kiwanis Club’s first three batters reached base on errors in the top of the first inning including Josh Lloyd and Grant Messer, who combined for three walks and four runs scored in the game. Brandon Moody singled and scored in the No. 2 spot to aid the Kiwanis Club attack.
VFW tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the first inning. Garrett Gensler doubled to lead off the frame, while Brandyn Metzger and Noah Lara singled. Erich Metzger doubled VFW’s fourth hit of the inning.
Ivon Lopez doubled for Kiwanis Club in the top of the second, and both Messer and Breydan Lowery reached base in the top of the third inning. But the No. 3 seed was unable to break the tie, and VFW took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Erich Metzger reached base and scored on an error.
The No. 1 seed broke the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring five runs to take a 9-3 lead over Kiwanis Club. Hunter Bartel reached base on an error, and Anlun Meyers singled to put two VFW runners on with no outs. Gensler reached on an error, and Brandyn Metzger reached on a hit-by-pitch before Lara reached on an error.
Looking to channel the energy they displayed in their thrilling victory over No. 2 seed Firemen, Kiwanis Club rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth to cut VFW’s lead to 9-6. Lloyd, Moody, Messer and Lowery reached base, with the first three boys crossing home plate.
But the No. 1 seed, who has yet to lose a game this season, finished strong with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Tommy Tourdot led off the frame with a double, and Tourdot scored after walks by Grant Gensler and Meyers. Lara scored VFW’s final run.
