Little League: Canyon Lake off to Indy, regionals

Little League: Canyon Lake off to Indy, regionals
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buy this photo Seth A. McConnell Canyon Lake's Bill Hendricks attempts to throw down the bunt against the Rushmore All-Stars in the first inning Thursday night. Canyon Lake went on to beat Rushmore 13-0 to earn a spot at the regional tournament in Indiana. (Seth A. McConnell/Journal staff)

RAPID CITY - Cale Fierro tossed a no-hitter in the North Dakota-South Dakota District I Little League Tournament championship game as the Canyon Lake All-Stars powered past the Rushmore All-Stars 13-0 on Thursday night at the Harney Complex.

Canyon Lake, which allowed only one run the whole tournament, put on a show with its pitching, hitting and defense to advance to the Midwest Regional in Indianapolis on Aug. 1.

Leadoff hitter Tanner Simons set the table for Canyon Lake by scoring four runs and going 3-for-3 with a walk.

Fierro added three hits and drove in four runs for the winners with Carter Wevik adding three runs.

"It was a good week for us," said Canyon Lake manager Doug Simons. "We have a real strong group and everyone contributed up and down the lineup every night."

Canyon Lake has a dozen 12-year olds on its roster and got earlier wins in the tournament from Simons and Jesse Riddle.

Rushmore earned its berth in the finals with a hard fought 2-0 win over Timberline on Wednesday night.

"This was the first time in nearly 20 years a Rushmore team had made the championship game," said Rushmore manager Art Melendez.

"We ran out of pitching, and that is what got us here. You have got to play to win to get there. I am real proud of these guys," said Melendez.

Canyon Lake scored single runs in the first and second innings before plating four more runs in the third off Rushmore starting pitcher Witt Dobesh.

Canyon Lake then scored three more times in the fourth inning off of reliever Antonio Goodbear. They added four more in the fifth against Brandon Humphrey.

"We are pretty good on defense and I just wanted to throw strikes," said Fierro.

"This is a great feeling. I was pretty eager to pitch tonight and really wanted to win this game."

Fierro fanned six batters while walking one in the contest.

"We just try to play one game at a time," said Tanner Simons. "Our goal is to get to Williamsport, Pa., and the World Series."

Canyon Lake will be taking on Cherokee Community Little League from Cherokee, Kan., in its first game in Indianapolis.

Steve Nolan, a Canyon Lake assistant coach is looking forward to making the trip. "I got to play in a regional when I was this age. My oldest son Josh didn't get to and now my son T.J. will have the experience."

Nolan came off the bench to add a pair of hits and make a nice stop at second base.

Canyon Lake's win ended Harney Little League's three-year run of playing in the regional representing South Dakota.

Copyright 2012 Rapid City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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