By Hayden Andrew

Special to the Reporter

The all city Kirkland Coast league title game started the way it ended – with Logan Norris, the Tigers lead-off hitter and starting pitcher.

The game was the featured contest on June 15 at Peter Kirk Park, as the Kirkland American Little League Tigers defeated the Kirkland National League’s Bulls, 16-15, in a high-scoring offensive game.

Norris began the first inning with a 1-2-3 inning on the mound. During his first at-bat he drew a walk and was drawn into a fielder’s choice. But the play sparked his team, as the Tigers batted around their 10-man lineup to take a 4-0 lead.

However, the KNLL’s Bulls matched their opponent’s offense, as each team scored during seven of the eight innings played. The teams combined to use eight pitchers during the game. The fourth inning was the lowest scoring inning, with the total score increasing by just two runs.

The Tigers found themselves down 12-9 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning but by the start of the seventh the contest was tied 12-12.

Before the start of the eighth inning, the umpires informed both managers it would be the last inning even if the game finished in a tie.

The Bulls would take a 15-12 lead into the bottom of the inning before the Tigers 7-9 batters all walked to start the team’s final at-bats.

Norris walked to the plate with the bases loaded and a chance to be a hero. The first pitch was a ball. The second pitch, a strike. Third pitch belonged to Norris, nicknamed Lo-No after Logan Morrison of the Seattle Mariners (Lo-Mo).

Norris swung hard, belting a walk-off grand slam home run.

“I was trying to walk home,” said Norris’s teammate Goldberg who was standing on third for the big hit. I was jogging, and then I realized I would be the go-ahead, walk-off run. So then I stopped, and just jumped on home plate, enjoying the moment. After that, it was chaos, we were dog-piling Logan.”

Hayden Andrew is a 12 year old Kirkland resident.