Pushed back a week, due to conditions caused by smoke from the Canadian wildfires, the Illinois Little League 10U State Tournament began play Saturday in Chicago.
The Macomb 10U All-Stars, representing District 17, started competition Saturday with a 9-0 victory against Clear Ridge, representing District 15.
Reed Dexter and Emmett Thompson combined for a three-hit shutout.
Dexter pitched 3.2 innings, allowing two hits and one walk, striking out four. He threw 50 pitches, 35 for strikes.
Thompson pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing one hit, striking out one. He threw 20 pitches, 13 for strikes.
Macomb scored three runs in the bottom of the first.
Leo Wright singled to left before Brady Worthington was hit by a pitch. Dexter singled to right to load the bases before Thompson was hit by a pitch to force home Wright with the game’s first run.
Duncan Jones grounded out to short with Worthington scoring before Colt DeCounter grounded out to the pitcher with Dexter scoring the third run of the inning.
Macomb maintained its 3-0 lead before exploding for six runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Wright singled to right before Worthington walked. Dexter singled to left to load the bases.
Thompson knocked in a run with a pop fly single to short before Jones followed with a run-scoring single to left to make it 5-0.
DeCounter then lined a 3-2 pitch to center for a base hit, bringing home Dexter and Thompson to up Macomb’s lead to 7-0.
Andersen Thorman capped the rally with a two-run single to right that scored DeCounter and Christian Frederick.
Macomb finished with 12 hits, including two each by Wright, Dexter and Rysor Plate.
Plate had the team’s only extra base hit, a double.
DeCounter had three runs batted in, while Thompson, Jones and Thorman added two RBIs apiece.
Wright, Worthington and Dexter each scored twice, with Thompson, DeCounter and Frederick scoring one run apiece.
Macomb returned to action Sunday morning, facing District 13 representative Pingree Grove.
Macomb put together a three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth before hanging on for a 3-2 victory.
Pingree Grove scored in its first at-bat, using a walk, stolen base and a pair of groundouts in taking a 1-0 lead.
Macomb grabbed the lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Dexter opened the inning by reaching on an infield single. One out later, Jones and DeCounter reached on back-to-back infield errors that loaded the bases.
Frederick reached on a fielder’s choice to the pitcher that brought home Dexter. Luke Clauson followed by reaching on a fielder’s choice to third that scored Jones, giving Macomb a 2-1 lead.
Plate then drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch with two outs to force home DeCounter with the third run of the inning.
Pingree Grove answered with a single run in the top of the fifth.
The District 13 champs used a walk, a passed ball, a ground out and base hit to tally a run, slicing the deficit in half to 3-2.
In its final at-bat in the top of the sixth, Pingree Grove loaded the bases with two outs. However, Wright retired the final batter on a ground ball to Worthington at second to close out the victory.
Both teams had just two hits, but Pingree Grove also committed five errors. All three runs scored by Macomb were unearned.
Wright picked up the victory in relief, pitching four innings. He allowed one earned run on two hits. Wright struck out six, walked three and hit a batter.
He threw 74 pitches, 44 for strikes. Jones started the contest, pitching two innings. He allowed one earned run, walking two and striking out one.
He threw 37 pitches, 22 for strikes. Dexter had a hit and a run scored, while Plate had a hit and a run batted in.
Jones and DeCounter scored runs, while Frederick and Clauson each knocked in a run.
Macomb is slated to return to action Tuesday afternoon, facing Ridge Beverly from District 7 at 3:30 p.m. The team is scheduled to complete opening-round play Wednesday at 6 p.m. against Hyde Park from District 12.
The top four teams advance to semifinal play Thursday with the title contest set for Friday.
