Mill Creek All-Stars advance to regional championship game

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The Mill Creek Little League softball all-stars just keep hitting.

They hope to keep the hot bats going as they prepare to play either Oregon or Idaho in the Northwest Region Tournament championship game, 2:15 p.m. Friday. The winner of that game, which will be shown on ESPN, advances to the Little League World Series.

Mill Creek, known as Team Washington during the tournament at the Little League West Region Complex, advanced to Friday’s title game by pouncing on Idaho early en route to a 12-2 triumph in Wednesday’s semifinal.

Washington registered 11 hits against Idaho’s West Valley Little League and scored three times in each of the first two innings. The outburst followed a 16-hit game against Alaska on Sunday.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Mill Creek manager Courtney Brown said. “Everbody’s contributing, which is great. … The girls are starting to see the ball, and they’re staying in their zone for the most part.”

All 12 batters in the lineup contributed at least one hit, RBI or run, led by leadoff batter Anya Miller, who went 2-for-3 with a walk, four RBI and two runs to spark Mill Creek’s offense. Daphnee Calsyn recorded three hits in her three at-bats and scored twice.

“(Calsyn) is a disciplined hitter, and she sees the ball well,” Brown said. “She’s got an elite swing and elite strength. What she does with runners in scoring position — she just always seems to come through.”

Miller, who starred in the pitching circle in the 2-0 win over Oregon in Saturday’s opening round, kept Idaho at bay on Wednesday as well. She held a team that had scored 21 combined runs in victories over Colorado and Montana to a pair of runs over five innings in the semifinal. Miller allowed three hits, struck out four batters and walked none.

After Idaho put its first two batters of the game on base with a single and an error, Miller retired the next 15 as Creek built a 12-0 lead.

Camryn Brown, who went the distance in Sunday’s 19-0 victory over Alaska, finished the game in the pitching circle after Idaho opened the top of the sixth inning with a pair of hits that eventually led to its two runs. Brown, batting fifth in the order, also drove in three runs.

Washington built a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Mary Joe Sewell (1-for-2) reached on one of her two walks and Calsyn singled with one out to give Creek two baserunners. Both came home on one of Idaho’s five errors. Penelope Gahan (1-for-2, run, RBI) drove in catcher Liliana Delgado (1-for-2, RBI, run) with a sacrifice fly.

Creek did some two-out damage in the second inning. Makenna Love started the three-run rally with a triple, and No. 12 hitter Mia Bailey (2-for-2, run, RBI) drove her in with a single to right field. Miller followed with Washington’s second triple of the inning, and came home on an errant cutoff throw for a 6-0 lead.

Delgado, behind the dish for all three games, has been a key for a Mill Creek team that leads the tournament in both batting average and earned-run average.

“I don’t think we’ve had one passed ball all tournament, and she’s caught every single game,” Brown said. “She’s been amazing.”

Brown has balanced getting in some practice time with keeping things as light as possible for the girls, who range from 11-13 years old. Many members of the team have played full seasons of both Little League and select ball. The team ventured out to see the movie “Smurfs” on Tuesday. Brown said the team planned to get a little time in the pool and watch the Oregon-Idaho game on Thursday.

Though Washington has beaten both teams, Brown believes the winner of Thursday’s game will be at its best for Friday’s championship game.

“We’re just going to attack this next game like we have every other game,” Brown said. “I do anticipate a close game on Friday.”

Brown has been impressed by the support of the community. In addition to the families of the players, others have made the trip to San Bernardino or are planning to head down for Friday’s title game.

“It feels good to represent Washington, to represent Mill Creek,” Brown said. “It feels good that the girls know that their hard work has paid off. I think they know they can compete as long as they stay within themselves.”