Bentonville Falls

WILLAMETTE VALLEY STAYS UNBEATEN IN POOL PLAY

Gan Nunnally, left, Bentonville coach, fist bumps David Marts near third base Tuesday after Marts hit a home run during the game against Willamette Valley, Ore., during the Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series at Memorial Park in Bentonville.
Gan Nunnally, left, Bentonville coach, fist bumps David Marts near third base Tuesday after Marts hit a home run during the game against Willamette Valley, Ore., during the Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series at Memorial Park in Bentonville.

— Willamette Valley, Ore., jumped on Bentonville early and often and the Pacific Northwest Regional champions completed an undefeated run through the American Division at the Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series with a 14-4 victory at Memorial Park.

Bentonville finished pool play in the American Division with a 2-2 record. The host team will advance to the championship bracket where it will face Danbury, Conn., in the quarterfinals at 8 p.m. today.

Willamette Valley gets a bye as the top seed from the American Division to Thursday’s semifinals where it will play the winner of today’s game between Bentonville and Danbury.

The top three teams in each of the two divisions advanced to the championship bracket. The title game is set for Friday.

Willamette’s first seven batters in the top of the first all reached safely en route to an early 7-0 lead. Jake Riley delivered the big blow with a two-run single while Bryce Boettcher added a run-scoring double.

Bentonville cut the lead to 7-1 in the first as Sawyer Price scored Ryan Thomas on a fielder’s choice. Thomas opened the Bentonville first with a single.

Bentonville scored two more runs in the second as David Marts hit a solo home run for Bentonville while No. 9 batter, MIke Miller, singled and scored on a wild pitch.

The Oregon state champions then put the game away with three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth for a 12-3 lead. Cam Parks had a two-run double in the fifth for Willamette Valley.

Willamette Valley also played error-free defense and turned a double play to end the Bentonville fourth.

Marts and Gabe Holley had two hits each for Bentonville.

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