December 23, 2024
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Ottawa American 11 All-Stars lose tight ballgame in Little League State opener

By Shaw Local News Network
The Ottawa American 11-Year-Old All-Stars pose with their District 20 championship banner.

The Ottawa American 11-Year-Old All-Stars pose with their District 20 championship banner. (Brian Hoxsey)

The Ottawa American 11-Year-Old All-Stars found themselves in a tie game late during its Little League Illinois State Tournament opener on Saturday in Champaign, but a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning gave the first-round win to the Salem All-Stars, 5-3.

Ottawa American led twice, 1-0 after the top of the first and 3-2 after the top of the third, but neither advantage lasted until the end of the inning without Salem tying things up. The team from Marion County then took the lead for good over the District 20 champions, plating two runs in the home half of the fifth and holding the American 11s scoreless the rest of the way.

Henry Farabaugh (2 2/3 IP, 3 ER) started on the mound for Ottawa American before being relieved by Bradyn Hermann (1 1/3 IP, 0 ER) and Baron Hellman (1 IP, 1 ER, 2 K).

Offensively, Hellman singled, doubled and drove in a run. Jude Willet also had an RBI, while Mason Mucci was 3 for 3 with a run scored.

Ottawa American entered Sunday’s second day of play still alive in the double-elimination tournament, scheduled to play a 12:30 p.m. play-back bracket game, while Salem moves on in the top bracket of the eight-team tournament. With a win, Ottawa American would play again at 5:45 p.m. Monday.