Staff report

GREENVILLE, N.C. — Rowan Little League’s softball team rolled 9-0 against Idaho early on Tuesday and is still alive in the Little League World Series.

The most exciting play for Southeast Regional champ Rowan in the elimination game was a triple into the left-center gap by Tenley Shell that got all the way to the wall. Shell beat the throw to third with a slide and headed for home when the throw got away.

Khloe Ratliff had a two-run double. Mary Kate Okula and Jaycee Small had key hits.

The West Valley team is the first from Idaho ever to make it to the World Series. Rowan is in its seventh World Series in the 12U age group.

Rowan experienced a 2-0 loss on Monday night in a battle with Austintown, Ohio, one of the best teams in the event.

Rowan (1-1) couldn’t make much contact against Ohio pitcher Mila Hamley, who struck out 13 batters in the six-inning game.

Hamley is a dominant pitcher. She struck out 14 in Ohio’s first game.

Rowan still was in a 0-0 tie in the fourth inning, but the Ohio girls broke the deadlock by scoring on a squeeze play and made it 2-0 later in the inning on a clutch hit.

Rowan’s next elimination game is going to be the first game on Wednesday morning, and it will be Rowan’s first game against one of the international teams. Rowan will be taking on either Mexico or Canada.

If Rowan wins that game, it will move into a quarterfinal matchup on Friday against the loser of the Ohio-Louisiana game.

Ohio and Louisiana are both 2-0. They play each other on Thursday with the winner advancing to the semifinals.

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The Rowan team includes Evee Baxter, Harper Deal, Megan Linebarger, Mak Melchor, Peyton Mulkey, Mary Kate Okula, Ashlynn Pfister, Leniyah Ratcliffe, Khloe Ratliff, Tenley Shell, Jaycee Small, Bristol Smith and Emory Stewart.

Brett Mulkey is the manager. Coaches are Jac Mulkey and Jeff Bernhardt.