Biggs Logging takes title
Published 4:38 pm Thursday, June 5, 2014
Biggs Logging, a team consisting primarily of 11- and 12-year-old kids from Bath, captured the Cal Ripken Major League crown and finished the season undefeated, overpowering Wilson Jones on Tuesday in the championship game, 12-3.
“They just did what we asked and hustled, giving 110 percent most of the time,” said head coach Doug Dixon. “We had a few times where they didn’t want to give it their all, but they are 12 year olds. They did everything I asked and this is the result.”
Entering with a 10-4 record and a second-place finish in the standings, Wilson Jones was the definite underdog against its undefeated opponent. Head coach Tony Hale decided his best chance at pulling off a two-game upset against the Major’s best team was to send his son Logan Hale to the hill.
Hale would face off against ace Carter Boyd, who had his off-speed pitches working early. Boyd faced the minimum over the first two innings, notching a strikeout and allowing just one base runner via a walk. That runner, Hale, was thrown out stealing by catcher Ryan Woolard.
It was a different story for the Biggs Logging offense early on. After Hale struck out the first two batters, Wilson Jones opened up for a two-out, four-run rally, capitalizing on sloppy defense. Douglas Dixon, Mathew Adams and Wooalrd all reached on three-straight walks and later scored after two infield errors.
Hale was pulled for the lengthy lefty Benjamin Beach in the second. Beach located his fastball and forced three straight ground balls to retire the side.
After a leadoff walk to Wilson Jones’ Jacob Tyson in the top of the third, Waylon Cooper reached on a fielder’s choice and Luis Ramirez followed with a walk. Then, Christian Beadraux came through with the hit of the night for his team, a two-RBI single down the right field line.
The defensive highlight came a batter later when Michael Reid hit what looked like a single to centerfield. Craig sprinted from deep center and fully extended to make an outstanding catch.
“Cameron has made two or three plays like that this season,” Dixon said. “He can cover a lot of ground of there. When you get to this age group, you have to have good outfielders.”
Despite chipping away, Wilson Jones was unable to quiet the Biggs Logging bats. Boyd led off the bottom half of the frame with a single to right and Cam Craig followed with a walk. Two batters later, Biggs Logging recorded four-straight hits, singles by Adams, Woolard and Tyler Modlin and a ground-rule double from Nate Vann that ricocheted of a car in left-center. When the dust settled, five more runs were on the scoreboard, putting Biggs Logging up 9-2.
A pair of doubles from Hale and Zach Ambrose in the fifth served as the final run to cross for Wilson Jones. And even then, in the bottom half of the inning, Biggs Logging scored another three runs of insurance on two walks and a home run over the parked cars beyond the fence in left field.
Boyd allowed three earned in four innings of working and picked up the win.
“He’s done it all year,” Dixon said. “I don’t’ think we’ve allowed more than 15 runs all year. All three starters have done it all year. He did a great job commanding his pitches tonight.”
With the win, Biggs Logging closes out the 2014 season undefeated, a perfect 13-0, while Wilson Jones finishes 10-5.