Washington players and coaches celebrate after Jack Titus (38) scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning to eliminate on Idaho Thursday. Eastlake Little League, from Washington, scored the winning run in the bottom of the 6th on a wild pitch to eliminate Coeur d'Alene Little League, from Idaho, 5-4 at the Little League Western Regional Tournament at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino. (Will Lester / Staff Photographer)
Photo gallery: LITTLE LEAGUE: Washington vs. Idaho
SAN BERNARDINO - Austin Oh was always part of the team, even though he missed all of the district and state qualifying tournaments with a broken arm.
For the kid who says he thrives in pressure, he got his chance Thursday night.
Oh's single to center scored the tying run and moments later Jack Titus scored the winning run on a wild pitch and Eastlake Little League of Sammamish, Washington rallied to down Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 5-4 in the second Northwest Regional semifinal on Thursday night at Al Houghton Stadium.
Washington advances to play Montana for the championship game Saturday at 2 p.m.
"I wish I knew what it was," Washington manager Rob Chandler said of his team's ability to rally late in games. "If I did, I'd bottle it."
Despite managing only one hit in the game, fourth-seeded Idaho took a 4-3 lead on top-seeded Washington to the bottom of the sixth inning.
Pinch-hitter Jack Rud led off with a walk. Idaho starter Anton Watson had to leave at that point, because he had reached the 85-pitch limit.
After an out, Jack Titus singled past the third baseman to put runners on first and second.
That brought up Oh, who had broken his arm falling off monkey bars two days
after the all-star rosters came out. Chandler added a player (giving them 14 total) and kept Oh on, and he finally returned for the Northwest Regional."He was still a part of our team," Chandler said.
With the count 0-2, Oh singled to center.
"I like the pressure," Oh said. "... When I was down 0-2, I thought he (Kobe Sims) might try and throw one in the dirt. But it wasn't in the dirt."
Oh's hit scored Rud from second base, and the throw to the plate put runners on second and third. With Bryce Delay up, a wild pitch allowed Titus to score the game-winner.
"We feel very fortunate and very happy. It's great to be in the finals," Chandler said.
A great pitching performance by Jacob Dahlstrom was nearly all for naught. He pitched 5 1/3 hitless innings, striking out eight before coming out when he reached the 85-pitch limit.
"I wish they didn't have the pitch limits," Dahlstrom admitted.
Brandon Gay got Idaho's only hit, a two-out double in the sixth against Jack Matheson.
Idaho scored all of its runs in the second inning on a hit batter, a walk, two errors, a fielder's choice and two wild pitches to take a 4-1 lead. Idaho had only one other baserunner in the game, Gay's double in the sixth.
Washington chipped away, scoring a run in the fourth when Jack Matheson doubled and scored on an error by the right fielder. Dalton Chandler's RBI double in the fifth brought washington to within 4-3.
"I give them (Washington) a lot of credit," Idaho manager Paul Manzardo said. "But I'm proud of our kids. I hope they take what they feel right now and turn it into something positive."
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