MARYSVILLE — Through five innings, the Stilly Valley Falcons built what proved to be an insurmountable lead, as they held off a Pepsi rally to win 7-4 and stay perfect in their Strawberry Tournament pool.

Falcon pitcher Sam Roe started on the mound for Stilly Valley in the June 4 game, striking out 11 in four and a half innings and giving up no hits. Meanwhile, the Falcons put together some walks, Pepsi errors and the occasional hit to accumulate a 7-0 lead by the top of the fifth. While walks provided Pepsi a few early opportunities, it wasn’t until the sixth and final inning the Marysville National team rallied to contest the game.

Pepsi catcher Sudin Johnson led off in the sixth, getting a hit down the third base line, while third baseman Cory Davis followed him up, cracking one deep to center field. Back-to-back walks ended the shutout as Johnson walked in and first baseman Aaron Christenson had a two-run hit to left field.

Stilly Valley’s relief pitcher Josh Schempp stifled the rally by striking out two Pepsi players and, one RBI later, ended the inning and the game with a fly catch.

The winning Stilly Valley effort came from throughout the lineup as seven different players scored for the Falcons and four different players each had a hit, including a fourth-inning RBI double by shortstop Drew Earnheart.

The game was Pepsi’s first since the end of the Little League regular season, following a first-round forfeit in Pepsi’s favor.

“We were a little rusty,” explained manager Rob McGarry. “We showed a lot of heart. We had the top of our lineup coming up and I thought we had a shot.”

Strong pitching has characterized the Falcons’ tournament run thus far according to manager Scott Kolling, as Earnheart threw 56 pitches in a complete game against South Everett in Stilly Valley’s tournament opener. The team won that game 4-2.

At Cedar Field