La Grande falls in district finals

MOUND MENACE: La Grande’s Mitch Workinger throws a pitch during a 4-3 loss to Pendleton in the District 3 championship game. - The Observer/PAUL HARDER

That’s all that separated the La Grande 11- and 12-year-old Little League team from advancing to the state tournament in Eugene this weekend.

“The kids played a great game,” Manager Tony Boyd said. “It’s a tough way to lose a baseball game.”

The name Alex O’Rourke will haunt the La Grande team after his solo home run ended the game 4-3 in the District 3 championship. O’Rourke smashed the La Grande offering over the center field fence, sending his teammates bounding toward home plate.

“We just missed our spot with that pitch,” Boyd said. “Eli (Childs) was supposed to get the pitch outside. Pendleton hadn’t shown it could hit that pitch. Unfortunately, the pitch missed up and down the middle.”

Defense made the difference.

Pendleton took advantage of La Grande’s gifts in the first inning.

With two outs, two outfielders collided on a pop-up, allowing the ball to drop to the ground.

The miscue deflated La Grande, and erased a 2-0 lead that J.C.

Pinch-hitter Daniel Cribs gave La Grande the lead back in the fourth with a sacrifice fly on an, with the out being recorded on a diving play by the center fielder.

“That was a big turning point,” Boyd said. It’s a break that could have gone our way, but it didn’t.”

Drew Hivley was also on the wrong end of the great play.

The La Grande first baseman smashed a pitch down the third base line with the bases loaded. But the third baseman reeled in the ball for the final out of the inning.

Brady Smith tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with a run scoring single.

Lost in the shuffle was a strong pitching performance by Mitch Workinger.

“That’s why we wanted (Mitch) on the mound for the game,” Boyd said. “He’s a tough competitor. We couldn’t ask for anything but what he gave us. Without the error in the first inning it’s a different ball game.”

Workinger pitched 4 2/3 innings, collecting six strikeouts and walking two batters. He allowed one earned run on six hits.