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AAA Champions!

The Chameleons (10-2-1) fended off a late Dinger (10-2-1) rally to win the Tempe South Little League Championship, 12-11.

While the Chameleons edged the Dingers by one run at the end, early on it looked as if the the game was going to be a blowout. For the second game in a row, Chameleon starting pitcher Victor tossed two brilliant shutout innings. The Chameleon ace finished the playoffs with 9 strikeouts in 4 innings of work. When he wasn’t striking out batters, the Chameleon defense backed him up. In the bottom of the second with 2 outs, a Dinger batter launched a ball to deep left center. Jace, playing left center field, made a spectacular play to catch the ball and retire the side.


After 3 innings of play, the Chameleons led, 9-0. Harper started the hit parade in the second inning. With the bases loaded, she laced an opposite field triple, scoring all three runners, stunning the Dinger faithful.

In the third inning, Zen sent the Chameleons fans into a frenzy, hitting an opposite field grand slam, to put the lizards up, 9-0.


But the Dingers were not going to go quietly. In the bottom of the fourth, the Dingers answered back scoring 5 runs, to bring the score to 9-5 in the Chameleons favor.

The Chameleons were able to muster 1 run in the top of the fifth, putting the lizards up 10-5.


Chameleons setup reliever Ellie came in in the fifth inning and struck out the side, putting the team 3 outs away from the championship. The lizards put up another 2 runs in the top of the sixth inning to run the score to 12-5, putting the game seemingly out of reach.

With the Chameleons up by 7 and their lights out closer Jace coming to the mound, the outcome of the game seemed like it had already been settled. But the funny thing about baseball is there is no game clock, and until 3 outs are made, the game keeps going.


The Dingers rallied hard and put up 6 runs in the bottom off the ninth inning. If not for a spectacular play by Chameleons closer Jace, and firstbasegirl Ellie, the Dingers might have stole the game. If you were at the game, you were witness to the athleticism of both players. With a Dinger batter hitting a slow dribbler up the third base line, Chameleons closer Jace raced off the mound and fielded the ball with his barehand. With the Dinger player sprinting up the first base line, Jace‘s only chance was to fire the ball as hard as he could to Ellie covering first base. The ball sailed every so slightly causing Ellie to have to leap to make the grab. Snatching the fireball out of the air, Ellie landed on the bag to make the out, likely saving the game. Sensing their championship hopes on the brink, the Dingers coaching staff did everything they could to persuade the umpires against the out call. But the call was upheld, and the Chameleons went on to record the final two outs and secure the championship.


With many spectacular performances it was Ellie that came down with player of the game honors. She did it at the plate, on the mound, and at first base in the end, when it counted.

The Chameleons championship parade is scheduled for Saturday at 10am at Sams house.







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