The Washington 14U All-Stars began the Babe Ruth Southeast Regional exactly where they left off as they went a perfect 2-0 on the first day the tourney in Glen Allen, Va. by topping Mt. Dora 4-1 before slugging past Summit Point 9-3 on Thursday.
The All-Stars began the tournament with a gut-check game as they grinded out a 4-1 victory over Mt. Dora (Florida).
Trailing for the first time all summer, the All-Stars rallied back from a 1-0 deficit as they tied Mt. Dora up in the top of the sixth before a three-run rally in the top of the seventh sealed the deal.
Armed with stellar pitching, Florida was able to strike out 13 All-Stars to take a 1-0 lead in the fifth. However, the pitching of Hailey Harris and Rachel Lang was equally strong as they combine to one-hit Mt. Dora.
Harris fanned five in 4 1/3 innings of work, while Lang pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and struck out four to get the win.
Down 1-0 in the top of the sixth, Washington tied the game up as Jordan Pierce reached base on a single and would cross home on a booming Lang RBI.
Pierce finished the game going 2-4, while Meghan Horton and Lang both added doubles.
The All-Stars took the lead in the seventh and final inning as Sarah Lynch reached base on a walk and was joined by Haley Witham and Horton, who each reached base via bunt.
With the sacks packed, Meghan Moore delivered a sacrifice fly that would allow both Lynch and Witham to score. Lynch tagged up from third and a heads up play by Witham allowed her to score from second.
“Haley Witham made the play of the game because on a deep fly ball to right she went back to tag instead of playing halfway,” Dority said. “She went hard around the corner and when she got an inch she took a mile with a big slide at the plate to give us an insurance run.”
Harris would score the team’s fourth run on a past ball.
The All-Stars knack for clutch plays continued in the second game as they broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning with a six-run rally.
Peirce and Lang belted back-to-back RBI doubles to pull ahead 7-3 before Horton drove in the eighth run. Washington would score its final run as a result of a rundown.
Lang finished the game going 2-3 with five RBIs and pitched the first four innings and struck out nine batters. Harris threw the final three innings and fanned one to get the win.
Pierce finished the contest going 1-4 with two RBIs, Harris was 3-4, Moore went 2-4 and Sydney Keech went 1-1.