Willcox, representing Arizona in the Little League Softball West Regional at San Bernardino, Calif., has reached the championship game after Wednesday’s 6-3 win in seven innings over Northern California.
Willcox will play either Northern California or Hawaii in the regional championship game Friday at 5:45 p.m. The game will be on ESPN.
Northern California will face Hawaii in the elimination-bracket final at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday on ESPN.
Willcox, 3-0 in the tournament, has defeated both teams en route to the championship game. It beat Hawaii 2-0 on Sunday to reach Wednesday’s winners bracket final against Northern California.
The winner of the regional title advances to the Little League World Series at Greenville, N.C., starting Aug. 4.
Hattie Macumber led Willcox in the circle and at the plate in Wednesday’s win over Northern California.
Macumber’s triple to right field to lead off the seventh inning started the game-winning rally.
Lilly Williams followed with a double that scored Macumber, putting Willcox ahead 4-3.
With one out, Williams ran to third base on a grounder by Josey Benavides that resulted in Northern California unable to throw her out on a close play. Northern California requested a review and the call stood. Benavides then moved to second on a groundout.
A throwing error on a grounder hit by Stephany Aguilar enabled Williams and Benavides to score and increase the lead to 6-3.
Macumber recorded a strikeout in the bottom of the seventh before Genevieve Duncalf lined a single to right field. The game ended with Benavides, the shortstop, fielding a grounder, stepping on second and then throwing to first for the double play.
Macumber allowed six hits with three runs (one earned) in her seven innings. She recorded nine strikeouts and two walks.
If Northern California rallied to beat Willcox in the seventh inning or beyond, Macumber would not have been eligible to pitch in Thursday’s elimination-bracket final because she was in the circle into extra innings as the starter.
Willcox does not have to be concerned about that now because the victory gives it the day off Thursday before playing Friday.
Macumber was 2 for 3 with three runs and an RBI. Leadoff batter Jayleen Aguirre, who bats a spot above Macumber in the order, also went 2 for 3 with a run. Williams and Julie Larson each had an RBI single.
Willcox never trailed after taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Macumber and Larson had RBI singles in the rally.
Willcox took a 3-1 lead with two outs in the fourth inning when Macumber, who earlier reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on a fielding error.
Northern California rallied for runs in the fifth and sixth innings to force extra innings.
Northern California was down to its last out in the sixth, when starting pitcher Alana Ha hit an RBI single to center field to tie the game at 3. Ha did not pitch in the seventh inning, which means she is able to go against Hawaii in Thursday’s game.
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