A second straight Eastern Region championship trophy is within the Kellam Knights reach after their 3-2 semi-final win over the Woodside Wolverines. While the win was far from pretty, it did move the Knights to the championship game where they will face the Great Bridge Wildcats at Old Dominion.
Senior Turner Bishop pitched six innings before leaving with a 3-2 lead. Sophomore Brett Forbes loaded the bases in the seventh inning with two out before giving way to Nick Walker who got Justin Burrell to pop out to short to end the game.
Both teams struggled with a tight strike zone combining for 13 walks and three hit batters. The first hit of the game didn't occur until there were two outs in the bottom of the 3rd inning; a single by Justan Carter. Kellam collected their first hit in the 5th inning on a double to the left field corner by junior David Mulac. He moved to 3rd base via a passed ball but was left stranded at third after a strikeout to Josh Worthley and a fly ball out by Kyle Morrison.
Both of Kellam's first two runs came Woodside starting pitcher Josh Welcher walked 3 of the first 5 batters he faced and he hit Turner Bishop with a pitch. Worthley drew a bases on ball with the bases loaded for a 1-0 Kellam lead. Reliever Tim Perry walked three straight batters in the second including a bases on ball to Turner Bishop with the bases loaded for a 2-0 Kellam lead.
Sam Sinnen went deep for a solo homerun to left field to leadoff the 6th inning to put Kellam ahead 3-0. It was only the second hit for the Knights.
Woodside broke thru with two runs in the bottom of the 6th inning. Josh Welcher doubled to start the inning and came home on a sacrifice fly from Seth Woodard. A single from Austin Rouleau to shallow right field pull to within one.
Kellam senior Kurt Sinnen didn't have his usual productive day at the plate but he made several outstanding plays in the field. He threw out Justin Burrell trying to steal in the first and he picked off Justin Carter in a run down while trying to steal. In the third, Sinnen made a diving catch to snag a foul ball on the 3rd base side for an out.
Perry pitched well in relief allowing two hits and two runs in relief. He entered the game with the bases loaded in the 1st inning and got the next two batters to hit grounders to end the inning. He finished with six strikeouts but walked seven.
Senior Turner Bishop pitched six innings before leaving with a 3-2 lead. Sophomore Brett Forbes loaded the bases in the seventh inning with two out before giving way to Nick Walker who got Justin Burrell to pop out to short to end the game.
Both teams struggled with a tight strike zone combining for 13 walks and three hit batters. The first hit of the game didn't occur until there were two outs in the bottom of the 3rd inning; a single by Justan Carter. Kellam collected their first hit in the 5th inning on a double to the left field corner by junior David Mulac. He moved to 3rd base via a passed ball but was left stranded at third after a strikeout to Josh Worthley and a fly ball out by Kyle Morrison.
Both of Kellam's first two runs came Woodside starting pitcher Josh Welcher walked 3 of the first 5 batters he faced and he hit Turner Bishop with a pitch. Worthley drew a bases on ball with the bases loaded for a 1-0 Kellam lead. Reliever Tim Perry walked three straight batters in the second including a bases on ball to Turner Bishop with the bases loaded for a 2-0 Kellam lead.
Sam Sinnen went deep for a solo homerun to left field to leadoff the 6th inning to put Kellam ahead 3-0. It was only the second hit for the Knights.
Woodside broke thru with two runs in the bottom of the 6th inning. Josh Welcher doubled to start the inning and came home on a sacrifice fly from Seth Woodard. A single from Austin Rouleau to shallow right field pull to within one.
Kellam senior Kurt Sinnen didn't have his usual productive day at the plate but he made several outstanding plays in the field. He threw out Justin Burrell trying to steal in the first and he picked off Justin Carter in a run down while trying to steal. In the third, Sinnen made a diving catch to snag a foul ball on the 3rd base side for an out.
Perry pitched well in relief allowing two hits and two runs in relief. He entered the game with the bases loaded in the 1st inning and got the next two batters to hit grounders to end the inning. He finished with six strikeouts but walked seven.