The Western Nevada River Bandits were able to pull out a 7-6 win over the Washington Merchants in its opener of double elimination play on Friday in the USABA 17 and under World Series in Pasco, Wash.
The River Bandits (4-1-1) scored four runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-1 lead against the Spokane-based Merchants. Carson High's Aaron Henry led off with a double to deep right centerfield. When the relay was bobbled, Henry advanced to third and when Washington tried to throw him out at third, Henry scored on the errant throw.
Carson High's Willie Bowman had an RBI single, Manogue's Jim McCarthy singled and Reno High's Steve Mays followed with an RBI single. Galena's Brian Evans hit a sacrifice fly to make it 5-1.
But Washington came back to take a 6-5 lead in the sixth as starting pitcher DeLong tired. With two men on, Bowman came in and after a walk to load the bases, he induced a popup for the first out.
But Bowman was the victim of bad luck on a fielder's choice that could have been an inning-ending double play. But an error was committed on the play, allowing two runs to score. Another run scored on a wild pitch and a two-run double gave Washington a 6-5 lead.
The River Bandits, though, fought back when Henry led off with a single and went to third on a single by Dayton's Matt Bowman. After Bowman stole second, he and Henry scored on DeLong's single.
Willie Bowman settled down to pitch a scoreless seventh for th win. He was also 3-for-3 with two RBIs while Henry had two hits and two runs and Matt Bowman scored two runs.