Willows junior team wins district crown

The Willows junior baseball team was scheduled to play a three-game set with Chico Central, but the smoky conditions last week created a winner-take-all game on July 11 to determine the District 47 champion.

Willows prevailed, 7-5, thanks in part to a three-run rally in the seventh inning. With the win, Willows advances to the Section 2 tournament in Susanville. Willows played its first game on Sunday against District 2 and played its second game on Monday. Results of the two games were not available at press time.

Willows led 4-3 heading into the seventh and quickly got singles by Pierce Baker and Alex Alves. After a strikeout, Clark Love was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Taylor Collins brought two runs home with a basehit. Drake Matteson then brought home another with a fielder’s choice.

Willows scored all of its other runs in the fourth inning. With one out, Collins was hit by a pitch. After a flyball out, Kyle Enos walked and Ryan Welsh belted an RBI single. Kyle Wycoff then added a two-run single and Baker added an RBI single to give Willows a 4-2 advantage.

Chico made it interesting in the seventh inning with a pair of runs on three hits. But Wycoff, in relief of starter Love, got two strikeouts and a groundball out to win the game.

Collins, Welsh, Baker and Alves all had two hits apiece for Willows.