Red Bluff Little League ensured itself a spot in the Western
Regional semifinals with a dramatic victory in the final inning over Utah,
which was assured a semifinal berth entering the game.
Northern California’s Lane Pritchard, who reached on a
lead-off bloop single in the sixth inning, advanced to second and third on wild
pitches before scoring the decisive run on a one-out ground ball to third base. Pritchard was
checked at third base but beat the throw home to win the game after the third baseman
elected to throw to first base.
Northern California Utah’s Erick Sanchez, who was 2 for 3,
tied the game in the fifth inning with an RBI single, one of just two hits off
Pritchard, who pitched the final three innings and struck out six before
scoring the game-winning run.
