By Staff
Staff Reports
WILSON — The historic run for Washington’s 12U All-Stars came to end on a steamy Monday afternoon in Babe Ruth World Series play.
Washington was eliminated from the tournament following an 8-4 loss to Lodi, Calif.
Washington, the Southeast Regional champions, was the first local product to win a World Series game since the 16U squad won three games in 2002. That 16U squad won its first three games in Greenville, before dropping its final three.
The 12U All-Stars finished 1-3 in pool play.
“We took some tough losses at the World Series, but we are very proud of our girls and what they accomplished this summer,” manager Ann Lang said. “It has been a wonderful experience for all of us. We’ve watched these Washington girls grow, both on and off the field.”
The Lodi Extreme took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Lodi added four more runs in the third for a 5-0 advantage.
Washington countered with four runs in the fourth.
Allison Brantley (1-3) started the rally with a bunt single down the third base line. Catie Dority (2-4), who was named Washington’s MVP for the game and continued her splendid hitting, following with a single into center. Haley Wright (1-4) reached on an error to load the bases.
Adriana Tyson, who had a terrific tournament offensively, drew a walk to force home Brantley.
Kelsey Lang (1-3, 2B, 3 RBIs) followed by smashing a bases-loaded clearing double to the base of the wall at the left field foul pole. Dority, Wright and Tyson all motored home, pulling Washington within 5-4.
However, that’s as close as Washington would get. Lodi tacked on three insurance runs in the fifth to take an 8-4 lead.
Washington had its chances. However, the All-Stars stranded eight runners on base, including the bases loaded in the first inning.
The outfield, including Brantley in left field, played flawlessly. Brantley, who had three putouts, gunned down a Lodi runner at third when she delivered a bullet to Dority at third base.
The infield was shaky at times, and that didn’t help pitcher Haley Hutchins. She suffered the loss on the mound, giving up just two earned runs on eight hits while striking out two.
Washington had its share of offensive stars in the tournament. Dority had seven hits, Lang banged out six and Tyson drove in nine runs.
The All-Stars, comprised of Allison Brantley, Catie Dority, Anna Hardison, Kortney Hardy, Molly Hodges, Harley Hudson, Haley Hutchins, Kaylee Jackson, Kelsey Lang, Ann Hunt Tanner, Adriana Tyson and Haley Wright, certainly provided excitement all summer.
Greg Dority, president of the Washington Girls Softball League, said it was a wonderful experience.
“It was a great run,” Dority said. “We shattered the myth of Pitt County’s invincibility in the Southeast Regional and made it to the World Series.
“Having experienced all of this, we fully intend to be back with our rising 8U and 10U teams.”
The top three teams in each division advanced to tournament play.
2009 Babe Ruth Softball 12-U World Series
Pool Play
RESULTS
Aug. 6
Hamilton, N.J. 8, SE Denver, Colo. 0
D.C. Everest, Wis. 2, Kinston-Lenoir 1
North Olympia, Wash. 6, Dover, N.H., 4
Wilson County 8, Washington (NC) 5
Aug. 7
Plaquemine, La. 9, D.C. Everest 1
Kinston-Lenoir 12, North Olympia 8
Washington 6, SE Denver 3
Wilson 10, Lodi, Calif., 8
Aug. 8
Plaquemine 6, Dover 2
Lodi 14, SE Denver 1
Hamilton 13, Washington 12
D.C. Everest 10, North Olympia 2
Aug. 9
Plaquemine 8, North Olympia 2
Lodi 7, Hamilton 3
Kinston-Lenoir 7, Dover 5
Wilson 4, SE Denver 1
Aug. 10
Lodi 8, Washington 4
D.C. Everest 12, Dover 4
Plaquemine vs. Kinston-Lenoir, NA
Hamilton 8, Wilson 5
Standings
American Division
W L
Hamilton 3 1
Wilson 3 1
Lodi 3 1
Washington 1 3
SE Denver 0 4
National Division
W L
Plaquemine 3 0
D.C. Everest 3 1
Kinston-Lenoir 2 1
North Olympia 1 3
Dover 0 4