Needing to win back-to-back games, Hancock County’s 10U All-Star team swept their doubleheader, beating Owensboro Western 11-10 and Breckinridge County 4-3 to win the Call Ripken State Tournament earlier this week.
“I am just really proud of this team,” coach Wade Gaynor said. “They played hard all night and never gave up. We had a hard-fought battle with Owensboro Western that lasted almost three hours and then had to immediately play the championship. Breckinridge County has a talented young group, and it was one of the best youth league games I’ve ever seen.”
In the semifinal game against Owensboro Western, Hancock County jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, but saw it cut to 11-10 in the fifth. With two outs and the tying run on third in the bottom of the fifth, Easton Burton recorded a pop up to end the threat.
Hancock County worked around a two out walk in the sixth to close it out and punch their ticket to the finals. Wiley Gaynor went 3-4 with three RBIs, Collins Johnson finished 2-3 with three RBIs, and Jack Powers and Burton both drove in runs.
In the finals, Hancock County was tied 1-1 entering the top of the seventh, but quickly found themselves trailing 3-1. A Powers RBI double and a Kiptyn Mayfield RBI single tied the game, but Jase Simpson walked if off after being hit by a pitch.
Gaynor went 2-3, while Mayfield, Simpson, Powers, and Burton all drove in runs. Burton started on the mound, striking out four over three shutout innings, while Gaynor and Sawyer McManaway both pitched in relief.
“I am just really happy for the boys,” Gaynor said. “They were all jumping around and celebrating. We have talked all summer about attitude and effort. Playing the game loose, fast and free. They have really embraced that, and it has been fun to watch.”
Starting later today, the 9U and 10U Cal Ripken Ohio Valley Regional Tournaments take place in Vincennes, Indiana, from July 16 to July 19. Games begin at 9:00 a.m. daily at the Cub League Complex, with two days of pool play followed by bracket play. The Championships are set for Sunday.
“We are really looking forward to the regional tourney, and it looks like we will play some solid competition,” Gaynor said. “It should be a fun experience for the boys, and it’s always fun to keep playing baseball. We are going to go up to Vincennes with the same mantra, to play loose, fast, and free. You cannot control everything that happens in baseball, and I am just looking forward to watching this team compete for another weekend. We will see what happens, but we are going to stay loose and have fun competing.
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