| To no one's surprise, Monday night's championship round of the 9-year-old District 18 Little League All-star tournament will be a rematch ... in more ways than one.
Both teams from Lamar National Little League (LNLL) will take the field at Danbury Little League once again, this time for the District 18 title.
Lamar National go in with no losses, while Lamar American had to beat Sweeny 12-2 Sunday night in the loser's bracket after dropping a 9-4 decision to Lamar National in Saturday's winner's bracket finals.
Both teams are no strangers to one another, and both National coach Darryl Rock and American coach Tracy Pruitt expect a thriller along the lines of last year's District 18 Majors title showdown at George Park.
In Saturday's first LNLL showdown, American took a 2-0 lead in the third after starter Brandon Pruitt shut down a National team that scored 78 runs in its four All-star games.
But in the third, National tallied five times. Blake Palmquist singled to left and Corbin Geisendorff beat out a bunt for a base hit. After Bo Hoeffken singled, doubles by Dylan Rock and Ryan Harris put National on top.
After Brad Armstrong walked, singles by Josh Lapierre and Kyle Parker upped the lead to 5-2.
Hoeffken was 3-for-4, Palmquist for 2-for-3 and Rock was 2-for-4 for National.
Parker came on in relief, going 3 2/3 strong innings. He allowed one hit, struck out five and walked for to get the victory.
National opened the tournament Friday with an 11-1 elimination win over Wharton.
Down 1-0, National exploded for seven runs in the third and four in the fourth to end the game on to the 10-run mercy rule.
At the plate, Karstan Fagan was 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Scoring two runs each were Fagan, Brad Armstrong, Dylan Rock and Ryan Harris (2-for-3).
Winning pitcher Rock went the distance, allowing just one hit and fanning five.
American also opened District 18 play in impressive fashion, routing Sweeny 20-8.
Kyle Boudreaux walked three times was hit by a pitch and scored four runs. Brandon Pruitt also reached base four times, all on walks, and scored three runs.
Cole Turney was 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs, and Jacob Skinner was 1-for-3 and three runs scored.
Skinner went three innings on the hill, allowing three hits and striking out four. Jack Johnson came on to finish the game for American.
The defense also excelled. Pruitt and Boudreaux turned a double play on a line drive that was speared by Pruitt at deep short. Pruitt got up and threw on to second for the force.
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