The five-team sprint to the Little League District 54 Senior division all-star title is starting to look like a Maidu runaway, as the ballplayers from the east side of Roseville have run roughshod over two opponents in the tourney.

Maidu is the only team standing in the winner’s bracket of the tournament after a 14-1 win over Woodcreek Wednesday night in a game that lasted just five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

“We are very happy to be the only undefeated team left,” said Maidu manager Rich Boone, “but realize that in order to win the championship we will need to defeat a very good team in either Gold Rush or Woodcreek.”

While left-hander Jared Virtue was dominating the Woodcreek hitters with a one-hitter for Maidu, his teammates turned eight hits into 14 runs by taking advantage of every base runner and all opportunities.

“We wanted to put the team in a position to advance to the championship game,” Boone said. “I threw one of our aces in order to achieve the outcome we wanted. Woodcreek had been playing great defense along with timely hitting and we felt that throwing Jared Virtue would present match up problems for them.”

Maidu’s Brock Kent was the hitting hero with three extra-base hits and five RBIs, beginning with a first-inning sacrifice fly. The Maidu centerfielder raked two doubles during the contest, and capped his night with a line-drive rocket over the left-field fence in a three-run Maidu fifth frame.

Chris Novielli had two hits and chased home two runs for Maidu as his club roughed up three Woodcreek hurlers.

“The first two games offensively have been a mixture of power, timely hits and speed,” Boone said. “Chris Novielli, Taylor Boone and Brock Kent have supplied the power while Josh Lakey, Taylor Phillips, Mack Boone and Slater McLaughlin have delivered key run-producing hits.”

With the loss, Woodcreek will now face a rematch with Gold Rush tonight at El Dorado High School, with the winner moving on to get a shot at Maidu in the title tilt. Whichever team he sees, Boone expects a tough game, but knows his team is built for success.

“Our lineup is balanced from the top to the bottom,” Boone said. “One through nine can swing it and deliver. Our bench continues to produce and justify my earlier thoughts on the depth of talent on the team. Our team speed cannot be overlooked as we continually put pressure on the defense. Jack Howell leads the Maidu speed wagon.”

The survivor of the Woodcreek, Gold Rush game will join Maidu at El Dorado High School for a 5 p.m. title game on Tuesday night. A Maidu win in that contest will give the league its second District 54 Senior division title in three years, while a loss in that game will lead to an immediate rematch, with game two determining the champion. One way or the other, a district champion will be crowned next Tuesday night in Placerville.