Highland captures Little League District II Semifinal Championship with 2-1 win over Dyer (age 12 and under)

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

(7-14-2005)

Team (Record) / Inning	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
DYER (5-1)	0	1	0	0	0	-	1	4	1
HIGHLAND (6-0)	0	0	0	2	0	-	2	4	1

Little League 12s -Wednesday, 7-13-2005 - District II Championship, 84 degrees & humid at Highland Little League

WP - Keith Mahler (2-0) 7K, 4 walks, CG, 107 pitches

LP - Jordan Polito (1-1) 9K, 0 walks, CG, 63 pitches

DYER (5-1)

Cody Dykstra (SS) Triple, walks

Brandon Cloutier (LF) Single, RBI

Taylor Lehnert (Catcher) Single, walks

HIGHLAND (6-0)

Johnny Hatcher (2B) Triple, single, run scored

Billy Gertsner (RF) Single, RBI

2005 Little League District II Finals

JULY 11: LOWELL 8, DeMotte 1

JULY 11: Munster 5, Griffith 0

JULY 12: Highland 11, LOWELL 1 (5 innings)

JULY 12: DYER 7, Munster 0

JULY 13: Highland 2, DYER 1 ----- championship

JULY 19 (Tu) Highland (6-0) vs. District I champ (7 p.m.)

JULY 20 (W) Highland vs. District I champ (7 p.m.)

JULY 21 (Th) Highland vs. District I champ (7 p.m.)*

* winner goes to eight-team pool play 12-and-under

state finals at Greenwood, In.

HIGHLAND (7-13-2005) When two undefeated teams go head-to-head in a single-elimination tournament, both know they already have a good team. But one of them needs a good night, some good luck and at least one good bounce.

That was Highland Wednesday night in a memorable Little League playoff game at the new Highland Little League.

The defending 12-and-under Indians state champions seemed a little overmatched at times against perennial power Dyer. Highland pitcher Keith Mahler walked four batters. Dyer's Jordan Polito didn't walk anybody. Dyer had 10 runners reach base, Highland had five.

But Highland made more than one very big play and had one big bounce go their way, edging Dyer 2-1 in the District II championship game.

Highland will be at home Tuesday night against State Park in the first of a best-of-three game Sectional playoff series with the winner headed to the state finals in Greenwood, Indiana on July 28.

The game ascended to classic proportions in the Dyer fifth inning. Highland had just gone ahead 2-1 on a controversial sacrifice fly ball by winning pitcher Keith Mahler, a play where runner Billy Gertsner appeared to be tagged out by Dyer catcher Taylor Lehnert.

But Dyer star Cody Dykema hit the first pitch on the fifth inning deep to right center field. Highland center fielder Mike Gamaleri gave chase but could not get there. The ball sailed to the wall and hit the yellow piping at the top of the chain link fence. Amazingly, the ball bounced back onto the field for a triple.

“I've never seen that happen,” said manager Mark Knesek. “I've never seen one come back like that. We got a big break. But we made some great plays.”

Polito hit the next ball into the hole between third and shortstop but Highland's Nik Mason stretched to grab the ball and threw the batter out with Dykema holding at third base.

The next batter Steve Letz hit a ground ball to second bass. While Dykema was trapped in a rundown, Letz went to second base. Dykema then dodged a Highland defender and lunged back safely into third.

After Nate Huzienga walked to load the bases, Dyer 's Brandon Cloutier hit a ground ball to short where Matt Knesek grabbed it and fired a low throw to home plate. Highland's catcher Mike Berg scooped the ball out of the dirt to force Dykema out at home.

Then, the game's most dramatic play. Dyer's Lehnert sliced a line drive into short right field. Highland's Billy Gertsner charged it, made an awkward tumble and grabbed it, saving at least a two-run double. While the Dyer crowd insisted the ball was trapped by Highland's right fielder, the home fans partied like it was 1999, sensing victory for the first time.

There would be no more drama. Mahler, a 6-foot-2 sidearm right-hander retired Dyer in order in the sixth and final inning and the celebration began for Highland's second consecutive District II crown.

Highland snuffed out big Dyer rallies all night, stopping a team that had outscored five victims 62-1 so far in the tournament. The game may have turned after Dyer scored a second inning run. With two out, Dykema rammed a hard line drive into deep right center where Highland's Gamaleri made a tumbling catch to steal a three-run double.

“They just kept making plays said Mahler, a little stunned in the post game celebration, “I thought it was great.”

Dyer manager Bil McDermott disagreed with some calls but he noted his team's failures at the plate.

“I thought he (Gertsner) was out at home,” said the Dyer field boss. “And they tell me that the last ball (Lehnert's line drive) was trapped in right field.”

“But we just couldn't get a hit with men on base. We could have scored a lot of runs. And we made some mistakes. It's hard. Our guys aren't used to this. But I told them in the dugout that this is the way baseball goes sometimes. This is a part of the game.”

Dyer scored against Mahler when Mike DiCicco singled and went to second base on a wild pitch. Cloutier then smacked an RBI hit off the third baseman's glove.

Polito, with a big fastball and a sharp curve, dominated Highland through three innings but pinch hitter Justin Stowe sliced a triple deep down the right field line and Gertsner scored him with a soft line drive single to right field. Nik Mason's ground ball went through the legs of Dyer first baseman Mike DiCicco putting the lead runner at third base.

Polito struck out Matt Knesek but Mahler hit a high fly ball into medium deep right center field. Dyer center fielder Steve Letz made a running grab and fired a perfect throw directly over home plate. Lehnert, Dyer's catcher appeared to tag Gertsner out, but the call went to Highland, as both partisan crowds roared.

Dyer fans bitterly protested both calls but the lack of any hard feelings between Highland and Dyer was evident in the post game awards presentations. Dyer and Highland parents were seen talking afterwards. That was certainly a change between some past District II battles that ended on controversial calls.

Highland will be favored in the sectional playoff series because of Mahler and Gertsner, two top pitchers. They have to be a little uneasy with the way Polito shut them down but the come-from-behind victory in a game where they were shaky early on has to do wonders for their confidence.

As did one big bounce.

DISTRICT II Little League (age 12) championship

2005: Highland

2004: Highland (also won state title)

2003: DYER

2002: Munster

2001: CROWN POINT

2000: Robertsdale

1999: DYER

1998: DYER

1997 DYER (also won state title)

1996: DYER

1995: CROWN POINT (also won state title)

1994: Highland National

1993: DYER (also won state title)

1992: CROWN POINT National

1991: DYER

1990: DYER

1989: DYER

1988: CROWN POINT

1987: CROWN POINT

1986: CROWN POINT

1985: Highland American

1984: Whiting

1983: Robertsdale

1982: Griffith

1981: (East Chicago) Ki-Yowga

1980: CROWN POINT

1979: CROWN POINT

1978: (Hammond) Edison

1977: (Hammond) Hessville

1976: Whiting

1975: Highland American

DISTRICT NOTES: Dyer turns their focus to the 10 (district) and 11 year-old (first round) tournaments this weekend. Dyer is the defending state 11-year-old champion.

Highland South (1975) and Highland American (1970) won state 12-and-under Little League titles in a five year span but Highland has never won back-to-back titles. Dyer won 12-and-under state titles in 1993 and 1997.

The crowd at Highland Wednesday night was over 300 and the Highland Little League had four sets of bleachers behind the outfield fence. The dates for the Sectional playoff series begins on Tuesday, July 19 at Highland, which was designated as the sectional series site before the season began.