Pacific Little League Ends Lacamas Red’s State Tournament Journey

Team high-five’s after Dante Humble makes an amazing center field catch.

AUBURN, WA — The Lacamas Red All-Star’s ended their state tournament competition Tuesday in a hard-fought battle against Pacific, losing 14-6.

“We knew going in, it would be a tough game,” said Coach Andy Ott. “But the boys played hard.”

Home team Lacamas started with Caden Wengler, who struck out the first batter, but the Lacamas defense made several errors, and gave away three runs in the first inning. The Lacamas offense wasn’t able to respond just yet. Plus, it didn’t help that lead-off batter Dante Humble injured his lower back in warm-ups and was taken out of the lineup.

The Lacamas defense was stronger in the second inning with three up, three down.

The Lacamas bats made a statement in the bottom of two as Jackson Day hit a nice one to right field, but was fielded out. Drew Ott got a base hit, Kolby Broadbent hit a line drive to center and Jackson Gibbs was walked. With bases loaded, Tyler Forner hit a line drive but Gibbs was forced out at second.

Pacific put one more on the board in the third, and Lacamas responded with some great hits, but just couldn’t get home.

At the top of 4, Jake Blair took the mound and the first batter hit one deep into center field for a double. Blair struck out a batter, but an error at first cost Lacamas another run. Pacific pulled ahead 5-0.

At the bottom of 4, Lacamas had its most powerful inning, giving it all they had in the warm sun. Ott walked, and Gibbs hit a single advancing the lead runner. Humble re-entered the game as Ott and Gibbs stole home. Humble got a base hit, while Wengler ripped it to center for an RBI. Josh Mansur’s single brought in a run and Humble scored on Christian Knuth’s base hit. Jordan Geigenmiller hit a line drive past second base for a single and RBI. Geigenmiller stole second, then Blair walked to load the bases. Lacamas tied up the game, but in doing so, they burned up most of their energy.

“Jake Blair is a warrior,” said parent Brad Day.

Pacific answered back with another run in the fifth, but Lacamas had some great defensive plays by Knuth, Mansur and Humble (who made an awesome catch in center field).

Lacamas had some great hits at the bottom of the inning, as Humble scored the last run for Lacamas by stealing home.

But Pacific opened it up in the top of six, in part by some great hitting and in part to a comedy of errors by Lacamas. Blair battled on the mound.
“That Jake Blair is a warrior,” said parent Brad Day. “He’s fighting hard.”

Humble made another incredible catch in center field, then Knuth relieved Blair. With one out, Lacamas was behind 9-6, and then Pacific scored two more on infield errors. Blair made an amazing catch. Behind 11-6, Lacamas looked out of gas. Pacific stole home twice, several batters were walked. Knuth struck out the last batter, but the damage was done, as Pacific was ahead 14-6.

Lacamas tried to answer with some great hits, but they were fielded out, and the last batter of the game struck out.

It was a remarkable journey for a talented group of kids who are just that – kids.

“They’re 9 and 10 year-olds and they did a great job,” said Hunter Andrews, a fan. “They played some great baseball and they should be proud of themselves. Especially at Monday’s game against Walla Walla. What a battle!”

Manager Jeff Mansur has a long-term vision for this team in the coming years. He really wants this team to win state and move on to regionals.
He and coach John Blair put together a traveling team that mostly resembled this All-Star team. They won the Bend Elks Tournament during the Memorial Day weekend, with a 6-0 record.

So, for most of these kids and families, winning the District 4 Championship was their second tournament win of the season. Pretty cool!
“We’ve been through a lot together,” said Kris Blair, mother of Jake. “This has been a great experience.”

The families are just now processing the up’s and down’s of state competition. Kris said it felt like they’d been gone a lot longer as so much happened in a condensed timeline.

“It’s an emotional time,” she added. “But it’s so much fun.”

Families were left with a schedule that changed sometimes by the hour, and day’s activities were predicated on wins and losses.

“It was hard to plan,” said parent Chris Wengler. “It’s been exciting and frustrating.”

Coach Andy Ott enjoyed the time but felt the kids didn’t play to their level. He thinks part of it was jitters of playing at state. It’s also a lot for children so young.
Spectator Carole Pleckinger likened the tournament to the following:

“The first day was like a Greek tragedy because they lost so badly,” she said. “Then the second game was the triumphant return, and the third game was the comedy of errors.”