Steiger's no-hitter keeps Southern's hopes alive

The Little League District 2 Major All-Star tournament got a lot tougher for the South Kitsap Southern baseball team Saturday at the SK Eastern Complex in Manchester.

After suffering a 5-3 extra inning game against Port Townsend, Southern kept its hopes alive on Brady Steiger’s first career no-hitter Monday in a 5-0 win against Sequim.

Steiger helped his own cause with a solo home run, two doubles and two RBI, and shortstop Chris Sizemore added a two-run blast.

Daniel Lathrop added an RBI groundout.

Southern will play either Gig Harbor National or Key Peninsula today at 3:30 p.m.

Southern has the dubious task of trying to win five consecutive games to get to the championship game.

In the loss to Port Townsend, a pitching duel ensued between Sizemore and Tyler Kelly.

Southern’s Scott Smith belted a solo home run in the second inning to stake his team to a 1-0 lead — which could have been enough for the victory had it not been for a pair of untimely errors.

Sizemore carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning. After striking out Morgan Maupia, Sizemore gave up his first hit of the game—an Eric Thomas double.

Sizemore came back to strike out Zack Yakush looking for the team’s second out.

No. 9 hitter Brett Johnson hit a short single into right field that was shallow enough not to advance Thomas home. But the ball rolled under the glove of rightfielder Todd Dalrymple to score the tying run.

Kelly struck out Southern’s side in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving him eight strikeouts for the game.

In the top of the sixth inning, Port Townsend’s Joe Aase led off with a double, advanced on a fielder’s choice and scored on an error. Kelly was intentionally walked and eventually came around to score Port Townsend’s third run of the game on a Thomas single.

Down but not out, Southern waged its own comeback.

Dalrymple reached first base safely on a throwing errors from Port Townsend’s third baseman. Two wild pitches advanced him to third base and he scored on Sizemore’s single.

With two outs the game looked to be over when Daniel Lathrop hit a nubber to Port Townsend’s second baseman. But Lathrop generated so much spin, the ball buried itself in the dirt and Lathrop beat the throw to first base, allowing Sizemore to score the tying run.

Lathrop ended Southern’s scoring threat when he was caught stealing at third base.

In the seventh inning, both teams faced new pitchers, since no pitcher is allowed to pitch more than six innings in a game.

New pitcher Brady Steiger gave up a leadoff single to Johnson, who advanced to third after a walk and fielder’s choice.

Parker McClelland’s RBI groundout scored Johnson, and Stevie Weaver knocked in another run to give Port Townsend a 5-3 lead.

Southern faced an even tougher pitcher in reliever Thomas.

He struck out the side with nasty curveballs to end the game.

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