Major Baseball District 4 Tournament

The Kimball's Honda Element

District 4's Major Baseball tournament finally began at Alpenrose tonight. All eight teams were in action.

SunCreek LL faced Lake Oswego LL on the West Diamond at 5:45pm. At 5:15, I spotted an antsy SCLL player fidgeting as our equipment manager and his mother were sewing a new button on his jersey! Was this a sign of things to come?

A pitching duel was broken up by our own Nick R. as he jacked a solo homerun over the right-center fence (and smashing it into the white dairy building), scoring our only run. SCLL won, 1-0.

However, the win came at a price. Nate S., the starting pitcher, shortstop and one of the coach's sons (along with his twin brother, Nolan), was taken away by ambulance after throwing a pitch, crumpling to the ground, and screaming in pain in the bottom of the fourth inning. Nate was pitching a masterful game -- a one-hitter. Play was halted to let the emergency crews make their way to the West field. Coach S. watched as his son and wife left in an ambulance and as the Tournament Director and coaches discussed the next move. We were up by one run, but there were runners on first and third.

Michael E., former Diamondback, and only 11-year-old on the team, took the mound. He struck out the next batter with three straight strikes, ending the inning. He proceeded to hold them hitless and we won!

It was an amazing experience. While the boys await word on their teammate, we are reminded about what is important in their lives. As Jack said tonight, "Mom, I have never seen anyone, let alone a kid, on a stretcher, in real life."