Photo by Audrey Williams
Saturday afternoon was bittersweet for Beckley Babe Ruth All-Star fans in bracket play at the Ohio Valley Regional.
The Beckley 16U All-Stars opened single elimination bracket play by running roughshod over Munster, IN, 16-1, but the 14U All-Star team had its run cut short in the semifinal clash with Janesville, WI. 7-0.
Playing in Wisconsin, the Beckley 16U squad made a big-time statement in its first trip to the plate.
After Kayden Quesenberry set Munster down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, Beckley plated 14 runs in the bottom of the frame to decide the game for all intents and purpose.
Seven Beckley hits and four Munster errors keyed the early explosion. Munster scored once in the second, but Beckley added two more for the 15-run lead.
Drew Gallaher came on to pitch the scoreless third inning, securing the win. Gallaher and Quesenberry combined for six strikeouts to keep Munster at bay.
Levi Barnett was 2-2 with three RBI to lead Beckley, while Noah Fox and Jacob Claypool each drove in two runs.
Maddex Sims, Brady Williams, Aiden Scarbrough and Quesenberry added one RBI apiece.
Beckley is back in action at 11 a.m., EST Sunday against the winner of Eau Claire Blue (WI) and Crown Point, IN.
Should Beckley win the first game Sunday, it will play for the regional title and a berth in the Babe Ruth World Series at 1 p.m.
The Beckley 14U team was pitted against Janesville for the second time in the tournament after falling via a no-hitter in game one.
Beckley fared much better in round two and gave the powerful Janesville squad a battle before ultimately coming up short.
Parker Hodge and Mason Adams each had a base hit, while Chance Moore smacked a double.
