The Mill Creek All-Stars are a confident bunch as they head for the Northwest Regional baseball tournament.
The winner of the six-team tournament in San Bernardino, Calif., earns a trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
“We feel we have a good shot to win this regional,” Mill Creek manager Scott Mahlum said following a practice earlier this week.
Mahlum gave his players the day off following Sunday’s 10-0 victory over Richmond in the majors level (ages 11-12) state championship. But it was back to work for the players on Tuesday.
“They’re excited,” Mahlum said.
Opening ceremonies are Friday and Mill Creek’s first game — against Anchorage, Alaska — is Saturday night. Mill Creek’s game is the last one of the opening round.
“We get to see everybody in our pool before we play,” Mahlum said.
Other teams in the tournament include Beaverton, Ore.; Boise, Idaho: Billings, Mont., and Laramie, Wyo. The semifinals, which involve the top four teams after pool play, are Aug. 7 with the championship game set for Aug. 9.
“We’re excited to represent Washington,” Mahlum said. “We’re not going there for a vacation. We’re going down there to win.”
Mahlum expects the weather in San Bernardino to be hot. Temperatures were in the 90s this week.
“It’s going to be quite a bit of a difference there,” Mahlum said.
Mahlum talked with two other managers who took Mill Creek teams to regional tournaments and he got two differing opinions. One suggested he schedule practice in the mornings before breakfast, while the other said Mahlum should hold practice late in the evening.
The two agreed, however, that Mahlum should not schedule anything during the midday.
“It’ll be very hot,” Mahlum said. “It sounds like I may have to use more than one catcher.”
One player caught all nine of the team’s district and state tournament games.
The players came into the state tournament confident about their chances and they feel the same way about the regional tournament, Mahlum said.
“They expected to win (state),” he said. “I don’t think there were any doubts in their minds. … They really believe they are going to Williamsport. They expect to win down here.”
Three individuals who have played major roles in Mill Creek’s success in the district and state tournaments are Jason Todd, Joakim Soderqvist and Derrick Mahlum, Scott Mahlum’s son.
Todd pitched a one-hit shutout and hit two home runs in the state championship game. He batted .458 with five home runs and was 4-0 with 38 strikeouts at districts and state. Soderqvist hit .600 with five home runs, and Derrick Mahlum batted .565 with six home runs and was 3-0 with 31 strikeouts.
With the possibility of having to play six games in eight days, other Mill Creek pitchers will need to step up.
“We have five, six kids that can pitch,” Scott Mahlum said. “I have all the confidence in the world in them.”
Mill Creek’s pitching and defense have been strong throughout districts and state. What Mahlum is hoping for is a little more offense.
“We’ve got to hit the ball a little bit better than we have the last couple of games,” he said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
