Sisters Bombers are state champs

The Sisters Bombers Senior Little League baseball team won the state championship on Wednesday, July 26, defeating the Battle Creek all-star team 3-1 in a showdown at Sprague High School in Salem.

Pitcher Jon Paxton led the Bombers, allowing only one unearned run on seven hits. Pat Burke scored all the runs for the Bombers, including a solo home run.

Battle Creek threatened to overtake the Sisters squad in the bottom of the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out on a walk and two infield hits. Ryan Harper, who had been sharp all day, snagged a sharp grounder and initiated a double play that ended the inning and secured the championship.

The championship game was Sisters' second in a double-header against Battle Creek. Earlier in the afternoon, the Bombers put Battle Creek down 11-4.

Steve Mills pitched one inning for Sisters, giving up three runs on four hits. Evan Livsey stepped in to shut their opponent down, allowing one more run on a solo home run shot.

Livsey helped his own cause, going 2-3 at the plate and contributing two RBI. Ryan Harper went 2-2, scoring two runs and driving two in.

Harper also contributed mightily in an earlier game against Riverside, a Portland team. Harper went 3-3 and scored three times, including the game winner in the 10-9 shoot out.

The championship victory put the Bombers on the road to Billings, Montana, for a regional tournament. They lost their first game 7-2 to a Fairbanks, Alaska, team. They were to attempt to climb back into the running for the regional title against Bellevue, Washington, on Monday, July 31.