By Thomas Grant Jr.
Irmo Little League will get to defend its United States championship Friday night at the Senior League Baseball World Series in Easley.
The Southeast Region champions won two games to reach the tournament semifinal and U.S. title game. After a first-round bye, it opened play Monday with a 5-3 win over host team Easley (South Carolina D1).
Hansen Haning and Wayland Grillot both drove in two runs and pitchers Cooper Derrick and Brewer Haggard combined for eight strikeouts.
In Game Two Tuesday against Central Region (Burbank, Ill.), Southeast Region (Irmo) fell behind 3-0. It got within 3-2 with a sacrifice fly by Derrick in the fourth inning and Caden Guy scoring off an error.
Central Region picked up what looked like an insurance run in the Top 7th to go up 4-2. With one out, Chase Ellis drew a walk to start the comeback.
A balk moved Ellis to second base and he scored after an error at second base on a groundball by Charlie Todd. After Todd stole second base, Haning drew a two-out walk, and Rory Dreher singled to centerfield to make it a 4-4 tie.
With the bases loaded after Derrick drew a walk, Central Region made a pitching change. Cannon McDonald was at bat when he belted a 1-1 pitch into centerfield for the walk-off 5-4 victory.
The U.S. championship game will air at 7:30 p.m. If Southeast Region (Irmo) wins, it will play for the World Series title against the International champion at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Across the country in Livermore, Calif., another Irmo Little League team looked to stay alive at the Intermediate 50/70 World Series.
Southeast Region (Irmo) opened the tournament Sunday with a 9-7 loss to California D57 Region (Danville). It faced Central Region (Whitefish Bay, Wisc.) Tuesday night in an elimination game.
All of the games are being streamed on ESPN+.
