Legacy Little League drops regional opener

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 | 11:39 p.m.

Stephen Sylvanie / Special to the Sun

Legacy pitcher Dillon Pletsch delivers in the second inning against Washoe during the state Little League championship game at Children’s Memorial Park on Tuesday evening.

Legacy Little League from Henderson has been in this situation before.

The Henderson-based league dropped its first game in the state tournament two weeks ago, but rallied to win four straight games to capture the title and advance to the Western Regional.

Now, one game into the regional in San Bernardino, the team of children ages 11-to-13-years-old will again have to fight their way back from an early setback.

Legacy was defeated 7-1 on Friday night by Northern California representative Loomis-Eureka Lakeside of Granite Bay in its regional opener. The winner of the six-team regional advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Legacy took an early lead in the first inning when pitcher Dylan Pletsch hit a solo home run for a 1-0 advantage. But Legacy only managed three hits the remainder of the game — singles scattered throughout the contest.

Northern California, which is considered the tournament favorite, took advantage of several Legacy miscues in the third inning to score five runs and take a comfortable lead.

“We were a little bit nervous playing in that big venue and big stadium,” Legacy manager Todd Slusher said. “It was a long day for them with opening ceremonies and moving around a lot. But besides that we just didn’t play well. We didn’t hit the ball well and we had problems with our timing.”

Legacy, which is guaranteed four games, has a day off before playing Sunday against Utah. The top four teams advance to the semifinals next Friday and the Aug. 16 title game will be televised on ESPN2.

“It is not impossible,” Slusher said. “We definitely have a chance to get back into it. We are confident we can do what it takes to reach the semifinals.”

Robert Frank, Matt Almodovar and Bryce Harrell each had hits for Legacy.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.