Stuttgart’s C.J. Kellogg slides home past Kaiserslautern Military Community catcher Justin Prendergast with the first run of the game in his team’s 11-9 win in the German-American Junior Little League District I championship game Saturday. Kellogg, who was to score twice more, led off Stuttgart’s half of the first inning with a double to center and scored on winning pitcher Trevin Stein’s single to center. (Rusty Bryan / Stripes)
Stuttgart’s C.J. Kellogg slides home past Kaiserslautern Military Community catcher Justin Prendergast with the first run of the game in his team’s 11-9 win in the German-American Junior Little League District I championship game Saturday. Kellogg, who was to score twice more, led off Stuttgart’s half of the first inning with a double to center and scored on winning pitcher Trevin Stein’s single to center. (Rusty Bryan / Stripes)
Winning pitcher Trevin Stein of the Stuttgart-Vilseck Wolverines follows through Saturday during his team’s 11-9 victory in the championship game of the Junior Little League German-American District I playoffs. Stein worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits, striking out five and walking just two. The victory landed Stuttgart-Vilseck in the European Junior Little League Regional next month in Kutno, Poland. (Rusty Bryan / Stripes)
STUTTGART, Germany — Trevin Stein’s baffling change-up and James Taylor’s high heat nailed down an 11-9 victory Saturday by the Stuttgart-Vilseck Wolverines for a two-game sweep of the Kaiserslautern Military Community All-Stars in the two-day German-American Junior Little League District I championships.
"My curve ball was working, too," Stein said after giving up six runs on six hits in his 5 1⁄3 innings of work. He left the game after reaching the 95-pitch limit Little League imposes on its 13- and 14-year-olds, his last pitch being, appropriately, a changeup that struck out KMC leadoff hitter Dallin Bridges.
Stein left with his team up 11-6, but KMC tagged Wolverines reliever Ryan Tannenbaum for three runs in the top of the sixth before Taylor came on to retire Caleb Crahood on a grounder to shortstop to end the threat.
Taylor then allowed a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh and final inning before inducing Aryan Van Eiken to ground to third and fanning Bridges and losing pitcher Austin Schmidt to end the game.
"I was a little nervous," admitted Taylor, who looked anything but, about coming in to face the potential tying run.
Saturday’s victory, coming on the heels of the Wolverines’ 6-2 victory in eight innings on Friday, put Stuttgart-Vilseck into Little League Baseball’s Junior League European Regional championship tournament July 14-21 at the organization’s European headquarters in Kutno, Poland.
Dylan Measells, who drove in two runs in a 2-for-4 day at the plate Saturday, pitched 7 1⁄3 innings Friday to pick up that victory. He was backed Friday by a 3-for-3 day at the plate by Taylor and Tannenbaum’s 3-for-4 effort that included two triples.
Saturday’s batting leaders included outfielder C.J. Kellogg, who doubled and singled in three official trips to the plate and drove in two runs; Stein, 2-for-3; and Taylor and catcher Josh McKivett, both 2-for-4.
For KMC, Schmidt and catcher Justin Prendergast each stroked two hits.
Some of the Wolverines will be making their second appearances at Kutno. Tannenbaum, Measells and Kellogg played in the Transatlantic Little League Regional there two years ago.
That doesn’t mean the trip’s old hat, however.
"It’s a new experience every year," Measells said.
