After winning the District 9 title on July 11, the Kirkland American Little League (KALL) 11U All-Stars, fought, scratched, clawed, and played their way to a state championship in Gig Harbor.

The KALL All-Stars lost their first game to Camas 6-3 in six innings on July 20. It was a game of a few ups and one regrettable inning filled with errors. After the loss, the players hung their heads in defeat for a few short minutes and then set their eyes towards the next game on Monday.

At game time on July 22, the team took the field as if they had something to prove. They faced Salmon Creek and immediately began to climb their way back to the top with a 12-2 win in four innings.

Now the boys from KALL only had to win seven straight games to win the state title.

Moving into July 24, filled with confidence, KALL faced Burlington-Edison, and crushed them 15-2 in five innings. The trend continued for the next two days while the KALL boys stomped Walla Walla Pacific 17-5, then Chehalis 9-1, both in six innings.

Revenge is best served with a win. The Kirkland boys were now set against the team that beat them in their first game of the tournament, Camas. With all of their confidence that had built through the last four games, the KALL boys started out hot scoring one run in the first inning.

The rest of the game up until the sixth inning consisted of a few run-scoring threats for both sides, none of which materialized, leaving the score 1-0 KALL in the top of the sixth. During the top of the sixth inning, Kirkland widened the gap with a three run, sixth inning and eventually winning with a score of 4-0.

Now needing only three more wins to become state champs, KALL faced North Bothell, a well coached, great defensive team. This game was also a pitching duel much like the game versus Camas. Kirkland managed to scratch together a run in the first and third innings and that was the difference in the game.

Having played seven games already, the KALL All-Stars now had to beat Pacific twice, the team hailing from the Lynnwood/Edmonds area. The theme for these games coincided with the last two displaying, great defense, good pitching and clutch hitting.

Game one began with a double by KALL, but the threat was ended quickly by two strikeouts and a pop-up. Pitching and defense stood up throughout the first three innings, but in the fourth, the KALL boys scratched together a run with the help of a base hit that bounced over the second baseman’s head.

Heading into the sixth inning, KALL had a 1-0 lead. A walk began the inning that would seal the deal. Kirkland scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning, highlighted by a three-run blast off the bat of Jordan Sacks. Evan Liggett pitched great through five, one-third innings and Dylan Kennedy came in and closed it for a win.

Game two was another hard fought, well-played game by both sides that started off with a bang. The Pacific team’s shortstop hit a soaring, deep home run in the second inning to give Pacific a 1-0 lead.

Just as you felt the momentum heading in Pacific’s direction during the bottom of the third, Jordan Sacks hit a solo shot to left field to tie the game and regain momentum for the Kirkland boys as they scored two more in the inning.  After a few errors in the top of the fourth by Kirkland, Pacific scored a run and closed the gap to 3-2. After a scoreless fifth inning, the Kirkland starting pitcher, Alex Levine, recorded two quick outs in the sixth just to have to face the Pacific’s home run hitting shortstop again.

You could feel the electricity in the air as the at bat went on with the count running to 2-0. The next three pitches would ultimately seal the game, all strikes, finishing a complete game gem thrown by Alex Levine.

The Kirkland American Little League 11U All-Stars displayed all of the things that you want to see in an individual, a player and a team. Their resilience, drive, positive attitudes, and sportsmanship were prevalent throughout the tournament and are commended by their parents, coaches and fans.

The Kirkland American Little League 11U All-Stars consisted of the following players: Nicholas Anderson, Blake D’Ambrosio, Andrew Davis, James Gardner, Dylan Kennedy, Alex Levine, Evan Liggett, Taylor Rickels, Stephan Rohacek, Sean Royal, Jordan Sacks, Kyle Uber and Kobe Westre.

The team is managed by Todd Kennedy and coached by Hunter Liggett and Kevin Rickels.

To see the team’s run through the brackets, visit http://www.littleleaguewa.org/washington-state-little-league-tournaments/bracket/413-10_11-Baseball-State