SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The Boulder-Arrowhead All-Stars ran out of magic on Saturday.
The Billings Little Leaguers lost to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, 2-0 in the Northwest Regional championship. Coeur d’Alene will head to Williamsport, Pa. for the Little League World Series.
B-A and CDA engaged in a pitchers’ duel early, playing to a 0-0 tie through two innings. The Idaho state champions would get on the board in the top of the third, though. Jake Dannenberg got on base with a walk and later scored on a wild pitch to give Coeur d’Alene the 1-0 advantage.
Idaho added to the lead in the fifth. An error put Avrey Cherry on second base, and he scored on another Boulder-Arrowhead error to put Idaho up 2-0.
The Montana state champions weren’t going away quietly, though, threatening in their last at-bat in the bottom of the sixth. Caleb Anderson singled to center to load the bases with Nicholas Schneider and Jakob Wilcox. But Idaho pitcher Alexander Currie got Kade Vatnsdal to fly out to end the game, securing Coeur d’Alene’s berth at the LLWS.
Idaho starting pitcher Christopher Reynolds gave Boulder-Arrowhead fits through five innings, throwing 86 pitches and striking out 10 batters. He allowed only two hits and four walks. Montana tallied just three hits in the game — one each for Cooper Tyson, Wilcox and Anderson.
B-A’s Carson Jenkins also threw well, striking out nine batters in five innings. He allowed two runs, though just one was earned.
