Shawn Haley's bases-loaded triple - on a 3-2 pitch, with two out - was the big blow for Eastern-Carmichael, which trailed 5-4 heading to the top of the sixth.
The Northern California rally was almost short-circuited when, with the bases loaded, Mt. Jumbo pitcher Brendan Gragg snared a liner back to the mound. But his throw to second sailed into center, allowing the runners to scramble back to base.
“The hardest part is knowing we were just as good as everybody here,” said Mt. Jumbo coach Gordon Booi, whose club gave up five runs in the sixth on Wednesday to the same team, in a 10-6 loss. “It just didn't happen.”
Mt. Jumbo finished its postseason 9-2, including a 9-5 win on Thursday over the Washington state Seniors (age 15-16) champions. The Missoula squad had its chances Friday, despite its problems with the California strike zone. Another 11 walks were issued to Eastern-Carmicheal.
Eric Denault issued six walks in three innings before giving way to Gragg, who pitched for the first time in the postseason, going four innings.
Mt. Jumbo garnered seven hits, with Jordan Cole going 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs batted in. His bases-loaded single capped a three-run fourth inning and erased a 4-2 deficit.
The rally started with Kirk Booi's fielder's-choice grounder, which scored Sam Hall.
Steve DeYoung reached on an error, stole second and scored on a passed ball to get Mt. Jumbo on the board in the first inning, and Cole singled and eventually scored on Trevor Price's ground out in the third.
Mt. Jumbo mounted a final rally in the seventh, loading the bases on three walks with none out. Cole scored on a wild pitch before Northern California went back to its starting pitcher, who fanned the final three batters of the game.
Eastern-Carmichael rapped out nine hits and stranded 11.
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