Folsom American claims District 54 title with 6-2 win over Lakeside

Folsom American Little League's 9-10-year-old All-Star team made a bit of history on July 3 and at least two families of team members are super glad they did. The Folsom American 9-10 All-Star team became the first Folsom American All-Star under the age of 12 to win a District 54 tournament in more than 20 years, as they defeated Lakeside, 6-2. Had Lakeside won the game, two families were ready to cancel their vacations so their sons could play in Saturday's championship game. Since Folsom American did win the championship on Thursday night, the families, having already packed for vacation when they arrived for the game, left immediately following for Idaho and Montana, respectively. In this game, Hunter Smith pitched 5.1 innings of great baseball, allowing two runs on eight hits, while striking out seven. His brother, Hayden, came into the game to get the last two outs. Hunter Smith gave up single runs in the first and second innings, but Folsom American scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and that's all they needed. In the bottom of the first inning, Caden Black walked before Hunter Vickers singled to put two runners on. Hunter Smith grounded into a fielder's choice, which forced Vickers at second. With runners at the corners, the two executed a double steal, as Black scored from third base to tie the score at one. Hayden Smith followed with a walk. Both runners moved up and later with two outs, Everett Ziemann singled both Smith boys in to give Folsom American a 3-1 lead. Folsom American added one run in the third inning when Hunter Smith singled and Hayden Smith reached on an error before being thrown out at second base. With Hunter on third, Reed MacLeod reached on an error which allowed Hunter to score to give Folsom American a 4-2 lead. Folsom's final two runs came in the bottom of the fifth inning. Vickers singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hunter Smith doubled to drive in Vickers before Smith stole home for the final run of the game. Lakeside out-hit Folsom American 8-6 in the game, but Lakeside also committed three errors, while Folsom American had none. Vickers and Hunter Smith each had two hits to lead the Folsom American offense. "I'm proud of the way the boys played and Hunter Smith pitched a great game before his brother came in and closed It," Folsom American Manager Brandon MacLeod said. "We had two families ready to go on vacation so they were super happy that we won." Folsom American now advances to the Section 4 All-Star Tournament where they play at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at Rancho Cordova Little League. "This is unknown territory for us, as we don't know anything about the other teams," MacLeod said. "Our team is made up of five kids who played up at majors and the other seven played AAA. It was a bit of an unknown, but once we starting practicing, I thought we had something special. Every player contributes in their own way. I was confident we'd do well in the All-Star Tournament, but I didn't expect us to get this far and to win it. Since tying our first game of the Sunrise Little League Tournament, we've won nine straight games."