WESTPORT — Once Chehalis got its engine started there was no stopping them as they rolled to the District 3 11-12-year-old Major Little League Tournament title here Saturday.
Chehalis completed a perfect 4-0 run through the tournament with an 11-0 whipping of the Capital Americans in the championship game.
"The kids got better each game," said Chehalis manager Bob Pehl. "We played with more confidence. We pitched better and after a slow start, our bats got stronger."
Chehalis opened the tournament with a tough 3-2 win over the Capital Nationals. But then it was three straight shutouts (10-0, 9-0 and 11-0).
Saturday, Robert Pehl Jr. got things rolling with a two-run homer in the top of the first inning. That would be all the runs Chehalis would need and Pehl made sure of that, tossing a four-hitter in the game shortened to five innings due to the 10-run rule.
Pehl struck out seven and walked just one in picking up the victory.
"Colton Schoelkopf had a great game behind the plate. Him and his father Scott did a good job of calling the game," coach Pehl said. "They moved the ball inside and out and around the plate."
Chehalis broke the game open with a seven-run fourth inning. Colton Schoelkopf had an RBI double in the frame and was followed by Yasser Khan, who plated two with a double. Pehl added another RBI with a single and Brennan Casteel finished things off with an RBI double.
Tyler McCarty finished the scoring with a two-run double in the fifth.
Chehalis had eight hits.
Pehl was awarded the game MVP, allowing four hits, one walk and striking out seven.
Chehalis made no errors and had some key defensive plays. With runners at first and second, Khan fielded a ground ball, stepped on third and fired to first for a double play in the third inning to snuff out a rally attempt by Capital.
Jordan Bowman made a diving stop at second base and threw a runner out at first in the second inning.
"We played pretty good defense," Pehl said. "The kids got better and stronger as the tournament went on."
The coach said the players were cool and calm.
"The kids were very businesslike. There was not a lot of jumping around. Every one of these kids has won state before," coach Pehl said. "Those kids expected to win it. I'm nervous up to the last pitch. They went out on the field and got the job done."
Chehalis moves on to the State Tournament, which begins Saturday at East Sammamish Park in Sammamish. Chehalis plays at 10 a.m.
Chehalis has won the last two 9-10-year-old state titles.
"Every kid on this team has won a state title, but we've impressed upon them that doesn't mean anything now," Pehl said. "We need to keep building and improving. The competition only gets tougher."
