LYNN– Sunday’s District 16 Little League Tournament elimination game between West Lynn and Wyoma was a pitchers’ duel through the first five innings.
But West Lynn’s four-run rally in the top of the sixth proved to be the difference in a 5-2 win at East Lynn’s Volunteer Field.
“It took a little while,” West Lynn manager Rich Contreras said. “We were supposed to play Saturday (rained out). It took the bats a while to get going but once they got going it was great. It was a tough game.”
West Lynn starter Gilmer Galva and Wyoma’s Josh Doney matched one another pitch for pitch as they cruised through the middle innings. Gilmer Galva allowed one earned run over five innings. Doney allowed three earned runs through 5 1/3 innings of work.
West Lynn’s Christian Figueroa pitched one inning of relief.
Victor Contreras, West Lynn’s No. 8 hitter, led his team with two RBI on a bases-clearing double in the top of the sixth. Rowan Merryman added a run-scoring single to West Lynn’s sixth-inning spurt.
Wyoma’s Nate Cutone had one RBI.
After a quick top of the first, Wyoma grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Kyle Doney reached on a walk and scored on Cutone’s RBI single.
Wyoma threatened for more in the bottom of the second with back-to-back singles. Gilmer Galva ended the inning with consecutive strikeouts.
Both teams went three up, three down in the third inning. West Lynn finally found the board in the top of the fourth. With two outs in the frame, Gilmer Galva stepped in and ripped a sharply-hit ground ball. A series of Wyoma throwing errors allowed him to cross home plate, knotting the score at 1-1.
Josh Doney laced a 2-out single in the bottom the fourth and Jacob Beyer reached on an error, but both runners were left stranded.
Both pitchers retired the side in the fifth inning.
West Lynn’s offense strung together a much-needed rally the top of the sixth. Jacob Peterson got things started with a one-out single and Gilbert Galva reached on an infield error. Merryman followed suit with a RBI single, giving West Lynn its first lead, 2-1. Contreras pushed the lead to 5-1 with a bases-clearing double.
“That was awesome. Victor’s my son so I was excited about that,” Contreras said.
Down to its last out, Wyoma made things interesting in the bottom the sixth. Shea Newhall reached on an error with two outs. Josh Doney brought Newhall home with a misplayed line-drive to left field, closing the gap to 5-2, but Doney was thrown out at third base to finish the game.
West Lynn lives to see another day in the tournament, taking on Salem Monday (5:45) at a site to be determined.
“My assistant coaches have worked hard,” Contreras said. “We’ve gotten hard work from everybody, coaches and players. It’s awesome how hard everybody has worked to get this far.”
Wyoma’s tournament run comes to a close.