Issaquah rallies to beat Eastlake for D-9 little league softball title

The Issaquah 9- and 10-year-old Little League Coast Tigers beat the Eastlake Huskies, 6-5, in a dramatic come-from-behind finish Saturday to clinch the championship in the District 9 City Softball Tournament.

Trailing Eastlake 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth and final inning, Issaquah rallied. Sydney Schultz led off with a single, followed by Michelle Gersuk reaching base. Sara Bruner doubled to score both Schultz and Gersuk, and tied the score. Bruner then stole second and third base before scoring on a clutch game-winning hit from Hannah McMullin.

The two teams remained scoreless through the first two innings before Eastlake jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third. The Huskies maintained an advantage until the sixth. Issaquah received another clutch RBI hit in the fifth from Emma Morgan.

The Tigers had to come from behind earlier in the week as they defeated the same Husky team 8-7 at Central Park.

Trailing 7-4 headed to the bottom of the fifth, Issaquah sparked a four-run rally. Sarah Jordan singled, and Gersuk, who had been injured when hit by a pitch in the first inning, doubled in Dominique Shells and Jordan. Bruner singled, scoring Gersuk to tie the score 7-7. Bruner advanced to third base in the next two at-bats, and came home on a steal for the go-ahead run.

Tiger pitcher Michelle Fowler protected the one-run lead, striking out three straight batters to seal the victory.

Last week’s tournament matched teams from the Eastlake, Sammamish and Issaquah Little Leagues.

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