Pitching, defense and mindset keys to Elma's state-championship success

Jul. 16—So how did Elma do it?

How did the Eagles go from what was seemingly just another hapless victim of the mighty Bellevue National powerhouse to defeating them in two straight games on the most important day of the season?

It all started with a conversation Elma head coach Mike Lisle and his coaching staff had with their players after Thursday's mercy-rule defeat.

"A couple of days ago, they took it to us and we played uncharacteristic of us," Lisle said. "I think the nerves got to us a little bit and (Bellevue) is a great team and I think seeing them the first time around made them a little nervous. We told them, 'Guys, if we just stick to our game plan, we can beat anybody.' We preach solid defense, timely hitting and we're aggressive on the base paths. ... We just tried to preach to them, 'Let's go meet them in the championship and win two.' And we were lucky enough to do that."

RYAN SPARKS — THE DAILY WORLD Elma pitcher Brysten Crawford, left records an out against Bellevue National's Ben Haufe during a 6-3 victory on Saturday in Elma.

RYAN SPARKS — THE DAILY WORLD Elma pitcher Brysten Crawford, left records an out against Bellevue National's Ben Haufe during a 6-3 victory on Saturday in Elma.

"We gave them too much respect," pitcher/third baseman Bryston Crawford said of the team meeting after Thursday's loss. "We're just as good as them. ... (The confidence began to build) as soon as we started hitting the ball and getting runs."

"(Coaches) told us that we were going to come back and beat them twice," said James Modersohn, who earned a complete-game victory in the 4-2 state-clinching win. "And not to give up."

The team responded on Friday with a 12-6 win over RUG-Pullman in the loser's bracket finale to advance to the weekend's grand stage.

To shut down a team that averaged over 13 runs per game in the tournament, you need good pitching, and that is just what Crawford, Modersohn and reliever Trey Sample delivered on Saturday.

RYAN SPARKS — THE DAILY WORLD Elma's Trey Sample tossed 2 1-3 scoreless relief to earn the victory over Bellevue National in the first game of the Little League Intermediate 50/70 State Championship on Saturday in Elma.

RYAN SPARKS — THE DAILY WORLD Elma's Trey Sample tossed 2 1-3 scoreless relief to earn the victory over Bellevue National in the first game of the Little League Intermediate 50/70 State Championship on Saturday in Elma.

"They commanded the zone and that's all you can ask," Lisle said. "We kept them off-balance all day and in a game like this, when you can keep that going for as long as you can, that is a championship formula."

On Saturday, Elma's pitching staff held Bellevue's offense to five runs — three earned — on eight hits and five walks.

The Eagles offense outhit Bellevue 12-8 in the two games on Saturday, a stark contrast to Thursday's one-sided loss in which Elma was outhit 11-1 over five innings.

Elma pitchers allowed just one extra-base hit on Saturday — a double by Ty Marcum in the first game — and struck out 16, which combined with the Eagles' much cleaner defensive play, kept both games closer than Bellevue had become accustomed to.

RYAN SPARKS — THE DAILY WORLD Elma's Hunter Young, left, steals third while Bellevue National's Derrick Peterson defends during a Little League Intermediate 50/70 State Championship game on Saturday in Elma.

RYAN SPARKS — THE DAILY WORLD Elma's Hunter Young, left, steals third while Bellevue National's Derrick Peterson defends during a Little League Intermediate 50/70 State Championship game on Saturday in Elma.

"Looking at them and researching them, they hadn't been beat and cruised through everything," Coach Lisle said. "We knew if we could get to them and get them out of their game, anything can happen. We got them out of their game and they made uncharacteristic errors and we capitalized. ... We knew if we could get them out of their game, we could play ours."

"I think they were probably doubting themselves a little bit," Crawford said regarding Bellevue's shaky first inning in Game 2, which started just under two hours after the first game.

The state title is the second for Elma Little League after its Junior all-stars won the state title in 2021.

Elma will represent Washington at the West Regionals which is slated to begin on Thursday in Nogales, Arizona (time to be determined, subject to change).

"I'm so proud of them," Lisle said. "I was trying to take it all in and enjoy the moment because we get to represent the state of Washington. We're going to Arizona and it's a huge deal for us and this community of Grays Harbor. We're just so proud for everybody here."