ROCK FALLS — Rochelle Little League’s Junior League Baseball All-Stars won the Illinois Little League District 19 Championship tournament this week. Rochelle rallied off three consecutive wins to clinch the title, defeating Rock Falls before scoring two victories against Freeport.

The Junior League All-Stars include Luke Chadwick, Riley Smith, Sebastian Albertson, Eli Schweitzer, Dayton Mellor, Nolan Zick, Joey Chadwick, Brayden Harley, Jasper Macklin, John Williams, Edwin Cervantes, Elijah Good, Kolton Cragin and Zachary Johnson. The Junior League All-Stars are coached by Mike McGill, Jaime Huerta and Mike Medina.

Freeport 1

Rochelle opened the tournament with a 10-6 loss against Freeport on Monday evening. Eli Schweitzer and Dayton Mellor each went 2-for-3, while Edwin Cervantes went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Freeport took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, scoring on a wild pitch before adding three runs on an error, an RBI single and a balk in the top of the third inning. 

Rochelle scratched its first run in the bottom of the third inning, where Edwin Cervantes hit an RBI groundout to score Brayden Harley. Rochelle rallied for two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, where Joey Chadwick drew a bases-loaded walk and Brayden Harley grounded into a fielder’s choice. Leading 4-3, Freeport exploded for five runs in the top of the sixth inning. 

Rochelle’s fourth and final run came after John Williams scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freeport closed the game with one run in the top of the seventh inning.

Rock Falls

Rochelle cruised over Rock Falls 16-1 on Wednesday evening to remain in the tournament. Rochelle scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning, where Jasper Macklin smacked a two-run single and both Edwin Cervantes and Elijah Good followed with RBI singles of their own. 

Rochelle added five more runs in the top of the second inning, where John Williams slapped a two-run single and Elijah Good belted an RBI double to right field. Brayden Harley’s sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning allowed Luke Chadwick to score and give Rochelle a 16-0 lead. Rock Falls tallied one run in the bottom of the fourth inning before the game ended by run rule.

John Williams pitched the final three innings for Rochelle, striking out six batters and allowing only one run on one hit. Sebastian Albertson fired a scoreless first inning with one strikeout.

Freeport 2

Rochelle defeated Freeport 7-4 in its first rematch on Thursday evening, forcing a second game later in the night to decide the district champion. Edwin Cervantes went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Dayton Mellor went 2-for-3 and pitched three and one-third innings with three strikeouts. Sebastian Albertson fired the final three and two-thirds innings to seal Rochelle’s victory.

Rochelle broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning, tallying six runs to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Dayton Mellor scored on a wild pitch before Riley Smith reached on an error and John Williams hit an RBI groundout for two more runs. Eli Schweitzer scored on a wild pitch and Edwin Cervantes sent a two-run single into left field to cap off the six-run frame.

Freeport answered with three runs on one hit and two walks in the bottom of the fourth inning. A wild pitch led to another Freeport run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Rochelle added a much needed insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, where Edwin Cervantes laced an RBI single to second base that allowed Jasper Macklin to cross home plate.

Freeport 3

Rochelle outlasted Freeport 9-8 in the district championship game late Thursday evening. Brayden Harley went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Joey Chadwick and Kolton Cragin each scored two runs. Eli Schweitzer pitched five innings as the starter, striking out six batters.

Freeport held a 2-0 lead after a double and three singles in the top of the second inning. Rochelle surged ahead after tallying three runs in the bottom of the second inning, where Jasper Macklin grounded into a fielder’s choice and Edwin Cervantes reached on an error before stealing home to put Rochelle ahead 3-2. Rochelle extended its lead with four runs on three singles, including an RBI single from Brayden Harley, in the bottom of the third inning.

Kolton Cragin walked and scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving Rochelle an 8-2 lead over Freeport, who answered with five runs on two doubles and one single in the top of the sixth inning. Freeport forced the game into extra innings after tying the score in the top of the seventh inning. Rochelle walked off in the bottom of the eighth inning, where two walks led to an RBI single from Brayden Harley, who slapped a hard grounder up the middle.