Staying alive

Spring Valley pitcher Brenna Faletti fires the ball to first for the out during their 4-1 victory over Mendota in District 20 Little League 20 action Thursday. (BCR photo/Brad Martin)

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PRINCETON —  Spring Valley got just enough timely hitting, tremendous pitching, and great defense to earn them a spot in Saturday’s championship game with Oglesby in the District 20 Little League Softball Tournament at Princeton’s Zearing Park with a 4-1 win over Mendota Thursday.

Oglesby has already claimed a forfeit win over Spring Valley in the opening game of the tournament so that means Spring Valley will need a win Saturday and then another on Sunday to claim the District 20 title.

Brenna Faletti singled to lead off the game for Spring Valley and ad-vanced to third on two wild pitches and then Deidra Whightsil then walked for two on with no outs.

With two outs Kelsie Thompson connected for a 2-run single to give Spring Valley a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

“That was big to get up on them early,” Spring Valley manager Jeff Mauck said. “We have played a lot of games the past week and you can tell the girls are a little tired so to get out early was big for their confidence.”

In the circle for Spring Valley Faletti was set on cruise control as she struck out seven of the first 10 batters she faced.

Whatever Mendota did hit in play the Spring Valley defense fielded everything for the outs.

“Brenna (Faletti) is a talented pitcher,” Mauck said. We also knew coming into the tournament that if we are going to advance it was going to be because we were pretty good defensively and tonight was no different.”

Spring Valley tacked on another run in the second inning as Morgan King walked and then scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.

In the fifth inning Spring Valley added another run as Thompson walked and then scored as the ball got past the first baseman for a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth Faletti walked four batters which allowed one run to cross home plate on a wild pitch, but with the bases loaded Mendota could not score anymore.

“We had the bases loaded twice and scored nothing,” Mauck said. “That’s a credit to Mendota’s defense and then our defense in the fifth also stepped up big and held them to one run.”

Spring Valley beat Oglesby 16-1 on Sunday, but was found to have an ineligible player and had to forfeit.

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