After taking third place in the Western Kentucky State Tournament, the Owensboro Eastern 11U All-Star Cal Ripken team qualified for the Ohio Valley Regional Tournament next weekend. A handful of other Owensboro Cal Ripken All-Star and Babe Ruth teams also wrapped up state tournament play on Sunday.
The Eastern 11U All-Star team lost 7-1 to Grayson County in the semifinals to start the day, but they beat Germantown 9-3 in the consolation game. They will move on to play in the regional tournament in Somerset at Lake Cumberland beginning July 18.
In the victory, Eastern was led offensively by Miles Edge (2-for-3, stole home) and Ross Milburn (3-for-4, triple). Milburn also finished out the game on the mound with one strikeout. Cam Rickard started at pitcher and got the win as he struck five batters. Eastern finished with 15 stolen bases.
Three Owensboro Western Cal Ripken teams and two Owensboro Daviess County Babe Ruth squads were in contention for state titles but ultimately fell short.
Western 9U fell 3-0 to LaRue County in their championship. Jordan Q. and Dane P. struck out four batters each in a strong day on the mound, but Kaileb C. recorded the only hit for Owensboro.
Western 10U lost 5-3 after a pair of sixth-inning runs by Green County. Each team scored two runs in the second inning and one in the third. Kamdyn U. had two of Western’s eight hits. Dre’Mail C. had two RBIs and a triple, while Brandon G. and Ty D. each scored and had a double. Khilan H. also scored.
The Western 6U team lost 18-2 to eventual champion Okolona in the semifinals. Full stats were not available.
ODC’s 13U squad lost 4-2 in the championship game to defending champion Germantown. Errors cost ODC — who allowed three unearned runs — and Germantown used two runs in the eighth inning to get the victory. Brock Burger had two of the ODC’s four hits, and Michael Chaney had the only RBI. Eli Blair and Easton Blandford each scored once.
Owensboro Daviess County 14U fell 8-7 to West Louisville in the semifinals. Full stats were not available.
Despite their finishes at state, the Western 6U, 7U and 8U teams will all still play in their respective regional tournaments beginning Wednesday. The 10U team may also advance but are not yet guaranteed to play in regionals.
