Little League World Series: Sioux Falls Late Comeback Not Enough

SIOUX FALLS, SD — Sioux Falls lost to the Northwest regional champs 3-4 and was eliminated from the Little League World Series.

Sioux Falls, representing the Midwest region, played the Washington-based Walla Walla Valley Little League team Saturday night. The game was played at the Howard J. Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Walla Walla will play the loser of Sunday's contest between New England and Southwest.

Walla Walla pitcher Andrew Hall pitched a complete game, striking out five batters and only giving up four hits on the night. Two of those hits were mammoth home runs off the bat of Sioux Falls' Marcus Phillips, who ended the day with three RBIs and two runs scored. (For more information on the Sioux Falls team and similar stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Sioux Falls pitcher Ethan Bruns pitched a complete game as well, allowing four runs on seven hits. He also struck out seven batters. Caiden Thomsen led the way for Walla Walla on offense, going three for three with three RBIs. Keegan Watson went one for three and scored twice in the contest.

Inning by inning recap:

1st inning:

Northwest batting: After rain delayed the game for about an hour, Sioux Falls starting pitcher Ethan Bruns took the mound. After Walla Walla leadoff hitter Drew Coleman drew a walk, Andrew Hall doubled to right-center field on a ball that went all the way to the wall. Coleman scored on the next pitch, which went all the way to the backstop. Keegan Weston then reached first base when he hit a ground ball to the shortstop, who decided to hold the runner at third base. Caiden Thomsen followed that up with a double down the left field line, scoring two more runs and pushing the lead to 3-0. A Landon Welter ground out moved Thomsen to third base. Thomsen was thrown out at home when Hayden Lomeli hit a ground ball to first base. Joe Baffney then singled to center to put runners on first and second base, but Bruns was able to strike out Rylan Warren to end the threat.

Midwest batting: Sioux Falls' leadoff hitter Cohen Henry tried to lay a bunt down but was unable to beat the throw. After Walla Walla pitcher Hall got Griffin Wilde to ground out to second base, Marcus Phillips launched a home run over the right field wall. Bruns followed with a single to right field, but Hall was able to get out of the inning with a strikeout.

2nd inning:

Northwest batting: After inducing a ground out, Sioux Falls pitcher Bruns plunked Coleman in the knee. Bruns got out of the inning unscathed by striking out Hall and getting Weston to ground out.

Midwest batting: Sioux Falls wasn't able to get anything going in the bottom of the second, going down in order on three consecutive ground outs. Hall threw just seven pitches in the frame.

3rd inning:

Northwest batting: With Sioux Falls pitcher Bruns still on the mound, Thomsen singled on a ball down the right field line, but was gunned down with a strong throw from Jaxsen Grevengoed. Bruns breezed through the next two batters with a strikeout and a groundout.

Midwest batting: After Walla Walla pitcher Hall got Grevengoed to fly out to center field, Henry reached on a slow-rolling dribbler to shortstop. Hall cruised through the rest of the inning, striking out both Naaktgeboren and Phillips.

4th inning:

Northwest batting: Bruns sailed through the fourth inning, striking out Walla Walla's Billy Duncan and then getting Carson Jones out on a bunt. Tanner Swopes the fouled out to the first basemen.

Midwest batting: Walla Walla right fielder Welter made a spectacular diving catch to rob Bruns of a hit. Pitcher Hall then induced back-to-back ground outs to end the inning.

5th inning:

Northwest batting: After getting Coleman and Hall out on a pair of ground outs, Bruns gave up a triple to Weston and then an RBI single to Thomsen. He as able to limit the damage though, when Welter lined out to first base.

Midwest batting: Hall picked up right where he left off, striking out Treyse Eastman and getting Sullivan Schlimgen to ground out to second base. Third basemen Lomeli then made a terrific play at third, charging a slow-roller off the bat of Hueners and then throwing him out at first.

6th inning:

Northwest batting: After Lomeli grounded out to second base, Baffney hit a ball down the first base line that bounced off the bag. Phillips nearly caught the ricocheted baseball with his bare hand, but the ball went into the outfield, leaving the runner safe at first. Bruns was able to get out of the inning though, striking out the next two batters on seven pitches.

Midwest batting: Walla Walla pitcher Hall walked Henry to lead off the inning. He got the next batter to ground out to second base, but Henry was able to advance to second base. Henry later swiped third base on a pitch that went all the way to the backstop, and Phillips proceeded to launch another home run — this time to left-center field — to make it a one-run game. Hall settled down though to finish the inning with a strikeout and then a ground out.

Final score: 3-4

Sioux Falls roster:

• Cohen Henry
• Griffin Wilde
• Marcus Phillips
• Ethan Bruns
• Mason Riley
• Jack Radel
• Beau Giblin
• Ty Naaktgeboren
• Jaxsen Grevengoed
• Treyse Eastman
• Leo Hueners
• Sullivan Schlimgen
• Logan Boom
• Bennett Dannenbring

Walla Walla Valley roster

• Joe Baffney
• Brixen Betzler
• Drew Coleman
• Billy Duncan
• Andrew Hall
• Carson Jones
• Jack Lesko
• Hayden Lomeli
• Tanner Swopes
• Caiden Thomsen
• Rylan Warren
• Landon Welter
• Keegan Weston

You can track the tournament at the Little League World Series and print your own bracket.

Photos courtesy of Little League Baseball and Softball