Northridge Is Too Far From Home to Win

Just what kind of afternoon was it for the Northridge Little League 13-year-old all-star team?

Northridge put runners on base in six of seven innings. Often, that’s enough to win. But the Valley squad couldn’t take advantage of the opportunities, stranding seven runners in a 3-0 loss to South Lake Charles, La., Tuesday in the opening round of the Junior League World Series.

Nathaniel Dunlap (7-1) pitched a strong game for Northridge, giving up three hits and three walks. But Chad Carnahan (8-0) countered with a two-hitter for South Lake Charles.

“We hit the ball at times, but they caught it,” Northridge Manager Tim Cunningham said. “We didn’t get any breaks.”

Carnahan’s two-out double in the bottom of the third drove in the first run and South Lake Charles (16-1) scored twice in the bottom of the sixth.

Dunlap had a one-hitter until South Lake Charles scored two runs on two bloop singles and a balk in the sixth.

Northridge’s singles came from Matt Cassel in the fourth and R.T. Girch in the fifth, but both came with two out.

In today’s second round, Northridge (16-3) will play Milburn, N.J., a 7-2 winner Tuesday over South Point, Ohio.