SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Austin Pellersels tripled to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning and then scored the only run of the game two pitches later as the Billings Heights-National Little League team beat Sitka, Alaska 1-0 Sunday at the Little League World Series Northwest Regional tournament in San Bernardino, California.
The triple was Montana's first -- and only -- hit of the game. The ball went through the second baseman's legs and carried to the warning track in right center. The right fielder had trouble fielding it, allowing Pellersels to get to third. Two pitches later, Brady Baker's hot-shot to short was stopped, but Pellersels slid in safely under the throw home to score the winning run.
Westen Fink pitched a complete game shutout for Montana, allowing just four hits while striking out nine. He threw 87 pitches, which means he must rest for four days before pitching again.
Alaska's Chance Coleman pitched 4.2 innings without giving up a hit while striking out nine and was also 3-for-3 at the plate.
Montana will play the Oregon state champions next on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. MDT. The winner of that game advances to Semifinal No. 1 on Thursday.
