By Thomas Grant Jr.
The undefeated postseason run continues for Irmo Little League’s Major team.
It defeated Alabama 11-1 Friday in five innings to advance at the Little League Southeast Region tournament in Warner Robbins, Ga. Irmo improved to 2-0 in the tournament in 9-0 this post-season.
A 6-run third inning, capped by a 3-run double by Jacob Gibson, was more than enough run support for starter Joe Giuletti.
He struck out six and allowed just one run and a hit in three innings. Reliever Palmer Steele struck out four in two perfect innings.
Irmo will face defending World Series champion Lake Mary, Fla. at 2 p.m. Sunday on ESPN+.
While the Majors look to reach Williamsport, Penn., the World Series tournament runs for three Irmo Little League teams came to an end.
In Easley, the Irmo Senior League team looked to repeat as United States champion. Its efforts to reach the final for a second straight year ended with a 7-4 loss Friday to the host team.
Charlie Todd and Dalton Gravelle each had two RBI for the Southeast Region champions.
The Irmo Intermediate team came within a victory of reaching the United States championship game in Livermore, Calif., on the same day. It lost 5-3 to the Southwest Region champion from New Orleans, La.
The junior softball team was eliminated Thursday in Kirkland, Wash., in Thursday’s quarterfinal. The Southeast Region champions lost 2-1 in eight innings to the East Region representative from Indiana, Penn.
It was a pitcher’s duel which saw both Irmo’s Ainsley Minchew and Indiana’s Ella Worthington strike out 12 batters. In three tournament wins, Minchew struck out 41 batters in 23 innings.
The game was scoreless through seven innings. In the Top 8th, East Region scored two runs off a single and an infield error. Southeast Region scored a run off a fielder’s choice by Charity West in the Bottom 8th, but a groundout ended the game.
Southeast Region softball closed out the tournament Friday in a consolation game. They fell 16-2 in five innings to Canada, finishing 3-3 at the World Series tournament.
Photos by Irmo Little League
