Trenton Cloward of the Phillies walked and scored in the first inning Monday, and thanks to his pitching that is all they would need as they downed the Red Sox 4-0 in the semifinal of the Ripon Little League majors tournament at Thiemann Athletic Park.

Cloward pitched into the fourth inning, striking out nine and giving up just three hits. He struck out the first four batters he faced and struck out the side in the first and second innings. Batting leadoff, he reached base three times behind a pair of walks and a single and scored three runs. 

Ethan Vander Plaats (2 for 3, three RBI) knocked Cloward in on a single in the first inning and a groundout in the third. In the fifth inning, Cloward drew a one-out walk and was doubled in by Jaxon Herrick (2 for 3, two doubles, RBI, run). Herrick scored on a single by Vander Plaats. Henry Berger added a double for the Phillies in the second inning.

Deegen Vrieling came on in relief for the Phillies with two out in the fourth inning and induced a groundout to get out of the inning on one pitch. Vrieling faced two batters in the fifth before yielding to Ethan Vander Plaats who went the rest of the way, striking out five while allowing one hit and a walk in 1.2 innings of work.  

Nathan Mortimer was 2 for 2 with a walk for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox play in the consolation final Wednesday night at 6 and Friday at 6 p.m. the Phillies await the winner of the consolation final in the championship round.