The Batesville Bats 10U traveled to the Greensburg City Park and won the Southern Indiana Sports Association Father’s Day Summer Blaze tournament this past Saturday over the Louisville Vipers 10-2 in the championship contest.
The Vipers struck first in the top of the first inning when the lead-off hitter reached base on a wild pitch dropped 3rd strike. After the lead-off hitter stole second and advance to 3rd on a throwing error, the 3 hitter reached on a base on balls. The Vipers immediately got the 3 hitter to 2nd on a stolen base. The first run crossed the plate on a ground ball put out to the 2nd baseman Caleb Mohr. A throwing error trying to get the runner at 3rd base allowed the Vipers to score there 2nd and what would be their last runs of the game.
The Bats came to plate motivated in the bottom of the 1st. Evan Johnson led the inning off with a hard base hit up the middle. Johnson stole second and scored on Brayden Maples base hit to center. Dane Dudley followed up with a first pitch line drive to left field. Both Maple and Dudley stole their respective bases on the next pitch with no one out. Noah Weigel drove in both runners with a solid hit to left field to give the Bats the lead and provide what would be the game winning RBI. Weigel stole second and scored on Caleb Mohr’s in-field pop up that found its way to the ground. Mohr was able to get to 3rd on a passed ball by the Vipers catcher and score on Ethan Lacey’s ground ball to the first baseman unassisted. Cayden Drake got a two out rally going for the Bats with an infield base hit. Drake stole second and advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch before scoring on an error by the Viper short stop to make the score 6-2 heading to the second frame.
The Bats added one in the 3rd inning when Dudley led off the inning with a sharp hit to left center, stole second base, tagged up on a fly out to right field and scored on a wild pitch to make the score 7-2, where it would remain until the bottom of the 5th.
Johnson led the home half of the 5th off with a double to right center. He stole third base and scored on a wild pitch. Maple followed him around by reaching on a base on balls, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch. Mohr was able to put a wrap on the championship for the squad by reaching on a base on balls, stealing 2nd base, as well as 3rd and then safely slid home on a wild pitch making the game ending play due to run rule after 5 innings of play.
Drake got the start on the mound and went 2 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, walking one and striking out three. Weigel, Johnson and Dudley each followed up in relief to secure the win.
The Bats were able to earn the number one seed earlier in the one day tournament, in scorching conditions, by convincingly defeating the Vipers 19-1 and the Indiana Curve out of Greensburg, 20-2. Maple earned the pitching victory in game one by going two innings, allowing o runs, o hits, o walks and striking out 4. Rylan Yeager and Preston Blessing preserved the game pitching one inning each.
In the 20-2 defeat of the Indiana Curve, Landon Raver got the nod going two innings giving up o runs, 1 hit and striking out 1. Mohr came on in relief to close out the contest and send the team to the championship contest in the evening.
For the tournament the team was led in hitting by Noah Weigel who hit .750, Evan Johnson .714, and Dane Dudley .667. Dudley was impressive with 8 RBI’s and Ethan Lacey tallied 7.
The Bats will next be in action Friday, June 22nd when the travel to Mooresville to compete in the USSSA Indiana State AAA tournament when they take on the Plainfield Havoc in the first game of pool play. On Saturday the squad returns for the 2nd game of pool play when they take on the Mad Dog Black team from Terre Haute. Bracket play will then be based on seeding from the pool play competition leading up the Indiana State Champion being known early Sunday evening.
Good luck to the Bats!
Courtesy of Bats Coach Paul Drake.