DOVER — The Washington C.H. 10-year-old all-star baseball team recently competed in the Little League State tournament.
The all-stars went 0-2 in the tournament, opening play with a 9-6 loss to Cambridge on July 24.
On July 25, the team was ousted from the tournament with a 12-1 loss to Boardman.
Boardman lost its first game of the tournament, 8-4 to New Albany.
From there, however, the Boardman kids defeated Washington, then Kings (9-0), New Albany (10-2), Ironton (10-8), Loveland (6-5) and Dover twice (5-4 and 10-4) to win the State title.
Washington was the home team in both of its games.
In the game against Cambridge, Washington allowed Cambridge three runs in the top of the first.
Washington rallied with two runs in the bottom of the first and after keeping Cambridge off the board in the second, Washington scored two more runs to take a 4-3 lead.
Cambridge scored one in the third and Washington scored one in the third to take a 5-4 lead.
Washington led by that score through a scoreless fourth inning.
However, Cambridge scored five runs in the fifth, taking the lead, as it turned out, for good.
Washington added one run in the bottom of the sixth for the 9-6 final.
Pitchers for Washington against Cambridge were: John Wall, Bryce Yeazel, Corbin Melvin and Evan Lynch.
The quartet combined to allowed nine runs on 14 hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
Washington committed five errors in the game to three for Cambridge.
John Wall and Evan Lynch were the leading hitters for Washington, each going 2 for 3. One of Wall’s hits was a double. He scored one run.
Bryce Yeazel went 1 for 2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch. He scored two runs.
Luke Crabtree walked twice and scored once.
Isaiah Smith hit a double and Eli Wilson had one hit.
Bryson Osborne scored twice for Washington.
In the bottom of the first for Washington, with one out, Bryce Yeazel singled to center and John Wall singled to left, scoring Yeazel.
Evan Lynch singled to left, scoring Wall.
In the bottom of the second, Eli Wilson led off with a single to right field.
Bryson Osborne hit into a fielder’s choice, taking Wilson’s place on the bases.
Corbin Melvin grounded out, advancing Osborne.
Yeazel drew a walk and Wall hit a double to left-center, scoring Osborne and Yeazel.
With the game now tied, 4-4, Washington took a 5-4 lead with a run in the bottom of the third.
Luke Crabtree led off the inning with a walk. He moved up to second on a ground out by Coleden May.
Isaiah Smith hit a double to left-center that scored Crabtree.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Cambridge scored five in the top of the fifth to take a 9-5 lead.
Washington scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Bryson Osborne began the sixth by reaching second base on an error.
Corbin Melvin singled to right, scoring Osborne.
“We were up on Cambridge,” Washington manager Ryan May said. “We had one bad inning, defensively, where things just kind of fell apart for us. We had played great defense up until that inning.
“We had the bases loaded in the sixth with no outs,” May said. “They got a force at home and we hit into a double play that ended the game.
“We were pretty close,” May said. “If we win that game, who knows what happens.”
In the game against Boardman, Washington trailed 5-0 coming to bat in the bottom of the first.
Corbin Melvin led off with a single to right.
John Wall singled later in the inning, scoring Melvin.
Pitchers in that game for Washington were: Bryce Yeazel, Corbin Melvin and Luke Crabtree.
The trio combined for eight hits and 12 runs. They walked six, struck out seven and hit one batter.
“Boardman won the State championship,” May said. “They’re a great team.”
May looked ahead to next season.
“I think this 10-year-old team is a great team,” May said. “It has a lot of potential for next year and the following year.
“The coaches were great,” May said. “I appreciate my coaches, Brian Yeazel and Greg Wall. And our scorebook-keeper, Ryan Lynch.
“I appreciate everything the community has done for us,” May said. “I want to thank our parents and I want to thank our Little League president (outgoing) John Meriweather. I can’t thank them enough.
“We had a good time at State,” May said. “Our goal going forward now is just to get back to State and win a game at State. We plan to get the kids together and try to get indoors somewhere and put in some extra effort. It’ll be a volunteer thing. We have a great group and these kids want to get better.”
Offensively for Washington vs. Cambridge: Corbin Melvin, 1-4; Bryce Yeazel, 1-2, 1 bb, hbp, 2 runs; John Wall, 2-3, 1 bb, 1 2b, 1 run; Evan Lynch, 2-3, 1 bb; Luke Crabtree, 0-2, 2 bb, 1 run; Coleden May, 0-3; Will Miller, 0-1; Isaiah Smith, 1-2, 1 2b; Eli Wilson, 1-2; Christian Heath, 0-1; Bryson Osborne, 0-3, roe, 2 runs.
RHE
C 301 050 — 9 14 3
W 221 001 — 6 8 5
Offensively for Washington vs. Boardman: Corbin Melvin, 1-1, 1 run; Bryson Osborne, 0-1; Bryce Yeazel, 0-1, 1 bb; John Wall, 1-2; Evan Lynch, 1-2; Luke Crabtree, 0-2; Coleden May, 0-2; Will Miller, 0-2; Christian Heath, 0-1; Isaiah Smith, 0-0; Eli Wilson, 0-1.
RHE
B 552 0xx — 12 8 0
W 100 0xx — 1 3 4
