[DEVILOLOGIST]

Russell-Flatwoods downs Fleming 4-1
By MELINDA ROBINSON — The Independent

LOUISA — Powerful pitching and smart base running helped the Russell-Flatwoods All-Stars down Fleming County 4-1 Monday night and capture the District 6 10- and 11-year-old Little League title.

Russell-Flatwoods starting pitcher Connor Messer threw 4/1-3 innings of shutout ball before reaching the maximum 85 pitch count. The right-hander fanned nine batters and gave up three hits while walking four.

Reliever Bobby May came in and threw 1-2/3 innings to save the game. He struck out four of six batters faced without a walk and gave up just one hit.

“(Pitching) has made the difference the past two years,” Russell-Flatwoods manager Jason May said. “When our reliever comes in, there’s no drop off from our starter. They just have different styles.”

Scoreless through three innings at the Louisa-Ft. Gay Little League Complex, Russell-Flatwoods took advantage of a pair of passed balls in the top of the fourth. With two outs and two runners on, Messer came home after leading off the inning and reaching on a fielding error. May, who reached on a full-count walk, scored a short time later on another passed ball for a 2-0 lead.

Russell-Flatwoods tacked on two more in the top of the fifth. Leadoff batter Bronson Korzep drew a one-out walk and Heath Hensley followed with a left-field single. A passed ball allowed both runners to get into scoring position for Messer, who drove them in with a double to shallow right field.

Fleming County took advantage of Russell-Flatwoods’ lone error in the bottom of the fifth which allowed Shawn Moulis to reach second safely. Quentin Humphries took May’s first pitch and drove it to right, plating Moulis. Humphries went to third on a wild pitch, but May fanned the next two batters to end the inning.

Starter Brett Fraley threw 3-1/3 innings of no-hit ball for Fleming. Maverick Burnett threw 2-2/3 in relief, giving up three hits. The pair combined for nine strikeouts.

Fleming had several opportunities to score early but stranded nine runners in the game. They loaded the bases in the first and had a pair of runners in scoring position in the third and fourth. Each time, Messer pitched out of the jam with strikeouts.

Second baseman Eli Hamilton turned a crucial 4-3 play in the third. First baseman Hensley threw down to catcher Korzep to hold both runners.

“That play really gave the team confidence because they were starting to get shaky,” Jason May said.

Messer then struck out two batters to end the threat.

Russell-Flatwoods advances to the State Tournament to be held in Louisville beginning July 19.



R-FLATWOODS 000 220 — 4 3 1

FLEMING CO. 000 010 — 4 2

Messer, May (4) and Korzep. Fraley, Burnett (4) and Moulis. W — Messer, L — Fraley, S — May. 2B: Messer (RF), Humphries (FC). 3B: Thomas (FC).