The Salem 11u opened up their Little League State Tournament on Saturday with a win over Ottawa 5-3. Salem scored 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull out the win. Owen Tennyson hit a first inning 2-run homer to give Salem the lead. Zane Applegate doubled and Jax Schaubert doubled twice. Trygg Aaron and Schuabert drove in runs. Kai Graham had 2 hits and scored twice, Applegate finished the day 3-3 with a run, Tripp Garden added a hit and Jared Crompton singled as well. Colton Tockstein was the starting pitcher going 4 innings allowing 7 hits and 2 earned runs. Schaubert worked the final 2 innings to get the win allowing just one hit.
Salem then fell to Western Springs on Sunday 8-4. Applegate homered in the loss and Garden doubled. Applegate finished with 2 RBI, Tockstein drove in a run with a single and scored, Crompton also singled. Bentley Bryan, Applegate and Tennyson all pitched in the loss.
Salem returns to action today in an elimination game against Ridge Beverly at 5:45.
In other first round action, Rochelle beat Champaign East 7-4, Hinsdale over Ridge Beverly 17-4 and Western Springs beat Elmhurst 12-7. Hinsdale then beat Rochelle 15-0 to advance to the state semifinal where they will play Western Springs tomorrow. In elimination game this afternoon Elmhurst takes on Rochelle.
