Battling the blistering summer heat, the Owensboro Western 10U, 11U, and 12U Allstar teams all won their respective Ohio Valley Cal Ripken Babe Ruth State Tournaments. Both the 10U and 12U teams will be competing this week in Crown Point, IN , for their respective Regional Tournaments, while the 11U team will not be attending due to scheduling conflicts.
For the 10U team on the final day, they beat Muhlenberg 5-0 and Butler County 4-3 to win the State Championship. Against Butler County, Brantley Lewis delivered in the clutch, ripping a walk-off in the bottom of the sixth.
“Butler County is a tough squad, but we came to play and they balled out,” Owensboro Western 10U Allstars coach Rob Schindler said. “These boys are tough and it’s 100% heart with them. They don’t give up.”
After their dominant state run, the 10U team has their eyes on the upcoming Regional Tournament, and Schindler just wants to see his team continue to fight and avoid laying down.
The Owensboro Western 11U Allstars beat Russellville 10-6, riding a massive second inning to win the State Championship.
“It took a lot of hard work from the kids and without them, of course, nothing would be possible,” Owensboro Western 11U Allstars coach Derek Bray said. “It started off a little rough. We had a few kids playing other sports with travel ball teams, and sometimes it was hard to get a complete practice. But in the end, the kids built a chemistry that just couldn’t be stopped.”
Despite not attending the Regional Tournament later this week, Bray acknowledged how special this roster was, calling it one of the best he’s ever coached.
In the semifinals and championship, the Owensboro Western 12U Allstars took down Breckridge 6-3, before holding off Elizabethtown 6-5. Leading 6-5 in the top of the sixth, Elizabethtown cut the lead to one, but Tucker Murphy closed the door to secure the championship.
“They are very strong-willed and strong-minded,” Owensboro Western 12U Allstars coach John Dudley said. “We haven’t lost a game yet and are undefeated in both the district and state.”
Competing in the Region Tournament, Dudley believes his can reach the World Series and credits how everyone on the team accomplishes their role, including the coaches.
“We are a really good team,” Dudley said. “We have a lot of good athletes who can throw gas on the mound and crush bombs when they are hitting.”
