As July draws to a close, local youth baseball teams are playing in their final events of the summer. The following are looks at how some squads with local connections fared over the weekend.
15-U Kokomo Kings
The Kokomo Kings’ 15-and-under travel baseball team wrapped up its season by winning the Kingsway Summer Slam.
The Kings finished 1-1 in pool play and then won three games on Sunday to capture the title.
The Kings defeated Team Victory from Joliet, Ill., 8-3 in the final. Zach Girrens went the distance on the mound and Parker Sanburn was the leading hitter with two singles. Girrens, Preston Emmons and Ronnie Smith each recorded a double.
The Kings finished the summer with a 26-10 record. They reached three tournament finals, recording one championship and two runner-up finishes.
14-U Indiana Raiders
The Indiana Raiders won the 14-and-under Baseball Players Association (BPA) World Series at Warsaw. The Raiders feature four local players — Drew Bellus (Western), Tyler Gatlin (Taylor), Cameron Herr (Western) and Evan Warden (Western).
The Raiders went a perfect 5-0 in the tournament. Warden had a pair of strong pitching performances, including a five-inning no-hitter against Niles, Mich., and he had a nice tournament at the plate too. He belted a homer and two singles in the final, and he had two homers and a single in an earlier game.
Gatlin and Herr both hit two homers in the tourney. One of Gatlin’s jacks came in the final.
Check the scoreboard for a rundown of the team’s games.
13-U Russiaville Rage
The Russiaville Rage 13-and-under team won the Lawrence Grand Slam Tournament in Indianapolis. The Rage went 3-1, beating Blackford County 11-1 in the final to avenge their lone loss.
In the final, winning pitcher Blake Williams helped his own cause with a double and a single. Bo Baker belted his second home run of the tournament, Daniel Wyrick had three hits and Austin Weaver, Tait Sanders and Colan Ruch chipped in two hits apiece.
Earlier in the tournament, the local squad beat Noblesville (18-5), Blackford County (11-7) and Noblesville again (4-3). Weaver and Williams each earned a win during that stretch.
Check the scoreboard for more from the team’s games.
12-U Kokomo Kings
The Kokomo Kings’ 12-and-under squad went 2-1 in the Bluffton Bash Tournament. The Kings opened with a 6-4 loss to the eventual champion Ossian Wizards, but bounced back to win their final two games.
The Kings beat the Huntington All-Stars 14-2. Keyon Washington and Aden Merchant each belted two extra-base hits and drove in four runs to lead the Kings’ offensive explosion. Merchant hit a home run to end the game early on the mercy rule.
The Kings beat Hartford City 14-0 behind Ben Tracy’s outstanding performance. Tracy pitched a no-hitter, and he drove in half of the Kings’ 14 runs with a homer and two singles.
Tracy also had a homer in the Kings’ opening game.
Check the scoreboard for more from the team’s games.
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