After starting 3-0, the Western Cal Ripken 12-year-old All-Stars earned a spot in the state tournament semifinals in Elizabethtown, where they will play at noon Sunday against Barren County.
In pool play, Western dominated both opponents — taking down Meade County 12-1 and Metcalfe County 5-0. They then routed Bowling Green 11-1 in the first game of elimination play.
In game one against Meade County, Western’s Braydon Whitaker went 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs. Braydon Towery had a double and scored a run. Pitchers Zach Morrison and Will Hume combined to strike out nine batters while allowing only one hit.
In game two against Metcalfe County, Western was led by Christopher Burns, who went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI. Israel Carter-Swanagan also had a double. Towery pitched 4.2 innings and stuck out seven batters while giving up one hit. Noah Ranburger closed the game, striking out two and allowing one hit.
In the game against Bowling Green, a home run by Hume was part of a 12-hit outing for Western. Hume went 2-for-3, scoring once and driving in two runs. Carter-Swanagan added two hits and three runs. Towery had two hits including a double, and he scored twice. Trevor Delacey, Morrison and Hume combined to allow a single hit.
