The Falls Church Kiwanis Little League Majors All-Stars wrapped up their week with two hard fought games, one a tough loss to the powerful, undefeated Vienna Colonials, and the second a narrow win over a resilient Arlington American Squad.
The Falls Church Kiwanis Little League Majors All-Stars wrapped up their week with two hard fought games, one a tough loss to the powerful, undefeated Vienna Colonials, and the second a narrow win over a resilient Arlington American Squad.
In the game against the Vienna Colonials on Friday, July 2, Falls Church starter Jamie Handley went the distance, striking out seven while walking only two. After Vienna got the board early with two runs, Falls Church roared back on hits by Justin Trainor, Handley, Kiran Menon and Marsden Davis. Falls Church added another run on a solo home run by Logan Nesson in the third inning.
After Vienna took the lead 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Falls Church rallied one more time. Handley doubled and then scored on a single by Chris Meador. But, on a hard hit ball up the middle – one that looked like it might get through – Vienna turned a double play, closing out the inning and securing the 6-4 victory.
After the strong showing against one of the strongest teams in the tournament, Falls Church entered in the game the next day, July 3, with a positive attitude, determined to achieve a different outcome.
Starting pitcher Daniel Schlitt turned in a strong performance, going four innings on the mound. Josh Rankin would come in to seal the win with a solid relief effort over two innings as Falls Church hung on for a well deserved 4-3 victory.
Marsden David launched the Falls Church offensive attack with a sharply hit triple up the left field line. An RBI-single by Robert Guenther helped stake Falls Church to 2-0 lead. After Arlington bounced back for a run in the second inning, Falls Church’s Johnny Peterson walked, eventually coming around to score on an RBI-single by Noah Anderson, making it 3-1 Falls Church. Two defensive web-gems by Justin Trainor at shortstop helped the Falls Church cause in the third inning.
Falls Church would add a final run in the fourth inning when Kiran Menon bunted safely, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch.
But Arlington was not finished; trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, they were able to rally for two runs, narrowing the lead and sending a ripple of anxiety through the Falls Church faithful crowding the stands. But Schlitt was able retire the side with no further damage. A key defensive play was turned it by Chris Meador and Kiran Menon, as they completed a 6-4-3 double play. While the outcome was still in doubt, Rankin came in to calmly set down Arlington’s batters in the fifth and sixth to capture the win for Falls Church.
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In spite of a strong come-back effort, the Falls Church Kiwanis Little League 11-12 All-Star team fell just short against Arlington National on Tuesday, July 6, losing 11-8. The squad wrapped up its season with a 2-4 record.
The 10-11 All-Stars will conclude its season with games on this Saturday and Sunday.
