Workman gets out of bases-loaded jam in Washington’s win
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest team mates run onto the field after their 4-3 win over the Southeast Friday at Lamade Stadium.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest's Paxton Hansen (8) is tagged out by Southwest pitcher Kase Yarbrough on a passed pitch in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest Kase Yarbrough (9) blows the crowd a kiss from second base after a single by Kasen Martinez (13) in the sixth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest's Kasen Martinez (13) celebrates after hitting a triple in the fifth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest relief pitcher Paxton Hanson delivers a pitch late in the game.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest third baseman Tyler Landry (13) fields a ground ball for a put out at first base in the third inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest's Artie Hinzman (2) connects in the third inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest's Kasen Workman (10) is tagged out by Southwest catcher Chandler Schramek on a single by Rhonan Loomis (6) in the third inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest starting pitcher Winston Weaver delivers a pitch in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest's Anders Paulson (8) celebrates after scoring a single by Merritt Cude (12) in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest team mates run onto the field after their 4-3 win over the Southeast Friday at Lamade Stadium.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest's Paxton Hansen (8) is tagged out by Southwest pitcher Kase Yarbrough on a passed pitch in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest Kase Yarbrough (9) blows the crowd a kiss from second base after a single by Kasen Martinez (13) in the sixth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest's Kasen Martinez (13) celebrates after hitting a triple in the fifth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest relief pitcher Paxton Hanson delivers a pitch late in the game.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest third baseman Tyler Landry (13) fields a ground ball for a put out at first base in the third inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest's Artie Hinzman (2) connects in the third inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest's Kasen Workman (10) is tagged out by Southwest catcher Chandler Schramek on a single by Rhonan Loomis (6) in the third inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Northwest starting pitcher Winston Weaver delivers a pitch in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest's Anders Paulson (8) celebrates after scoring a single by Merritt Cude (12) in the first inning.
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The pressure could not be turned up any higher and Kasen Workman could not have handled it any better.
Workman entered with the bases loaded and no outs Friday at Lamade Stadium, retiring three straight hitters and preserving a thrilling 4-3 Tacoma, Washington Little League World Series win against Boerne, Texas. Washington improved to 2-0 at the Series and will play Henderson, Nevada on Sunday at Lamade Stadium, with the winner reaching the winners' bracket final.
Workman combined with winning pitcher Winston Weaver and Paxton Hansen on a six-hitter. Workman delivered offensively and defensively and his two-run third inning double broke a 2-2 tie putting Washington ahead to stay.
Kase Yarbrough went 2 for 2 with a walk for Texas and started the bottom of the sixth with a lead-off double. Walker Yost was hit by a pitch and Merritt Cude reached on an error with no outs, loading the bases and putting the winning runners in scoring position.
But Workman, who hit a go-ahead seventh-inning single Wednesday against Alabama, again was at his best in the biggest moment. He induced two grounders before center fielder Anthony Romero snared a line drive and sealed the Washington win.
"It was just crazy," Workman said. "When I was on the mound, I just knew that I needed to throw strikes and my defense would be be behind me."
Weaver struck out eight in four innings and Hasen did not allow a run in his inning. Washington scored twice in the top of the first but Texas scored in the bottom of the first and second, tying it 2-2 when Lawson Belden scored Anders Paulson with a two-out RBI single.
Texas will play again Monday, playing the winner of Saturday's Massachusetts-Ohio game in an elimination contest at Lamade Stadium. That game on Monday is scheduled for 3 p.m. Whoever wins that elimination game on Monday advances to play again on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Lamade Stadium in another win-or-go-home scenario.