Northeast Nodaway’s undefeated Little League team overcame an early 3-0 deficit against King City Friday and erupted for 18 runs in the first inning and came away with a 21-6 win in the opening round of the tournament. They did nothing to hurt their chances to run the table. They play again this Friday against either Stanberry or Albany.
The Bluejays fell behind 3-0 in the first, but prevented it from being worse thanks to getting a couple of rundown outs. But from there, a combination of good hitting and aggressive baserunning put Northeast in control.
It didn’t look good at first. After Wyatt Scadden walked, Brady O’Connell forced him at second. He drew an errant throw to third as King City tried to catch him in a rundown to cut it to 3-1, and Liam Cordell walked. But when Benton Roberts popped out for the second out, it looked like it would be a long night for the Bluejays and a possible trip to the loser’s bracket.
But then Liam Cordell stole third and came home on an errant throw to cut it to 3-2, and the purple shirts began to unravel. Jackson Taylor walked, Jace Burns reached on an error, and then Northeast pulled off a successful double steal. King City tried to throw to second on the first and third play with two outs, but Jace Burns showed some wheels and made it as Jackson Taylor came home safely.
Gracin Runde stretched a single into a double and then Landon Moore and Brock Adwell walked to bring up the top of the order. Wyatt Scadden roped a double into center to score two, Brady O’Connell singled home two more, and the rout was on.
The big blow of the inning came later when Jace Burns hit a shot into the gap in right center and flew around the bases for a three run home run. He later dribbled one off the bat for a groundout; not satisfied with his work, he and some of the other kids took to the batting cage to get some extra swings in after the game ended.
Gracin Runde beat out an infield hit to keep the inning alive, Landon Moore walked, and then Brock Adwell’s pop fly single brought them both home as they were off on the crack of the bat with two outs. That brought the top of the order up for the second time and Wyatt Scadden stretched a single into a double, Brady O’Connell reached second on an error, and Liam Cordell stretched another single into a double to keep the line moving.
By the time the dust had settled, the Bluejays were in front 18-3 and were in control.
King City tried to keep the game going with three runs in the third, but Brock Adwell reached on an error and Wyatt Scadden doubled to put runners on second and third. Brady O’Connell hit one hard, but right at the center fielder; however, King City threw it away to allow Adwell to score. Scadden came home on a wild pitch and Bentin Roberts’ triple ended the game on the 15 run rule when the cutoff throw got away and he was able to make it home safely.
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