The stat champion 15-and-under Babe Ruth all-star team in front from left are Chase Sanches, Cameron Beyer, Will Bliss, Nick Sanches, Christian Cedeno and Brett Kelly. Back row from left are Blake Bradley, Kendall Johnson, coach Nikko Parsley, manager Teryn Smith, Cade Monardo and Taylor Hood.
Fallon’s Babe Ruth all-star teams flexed their muscles over the weekend, winning two of three state tournaments to advance to the Pacific Southwest regional stage, while one Cal Ripken club also punched its ticket.
The 13-15 all-stars, coached by Teryn Smith, defeated North Valleys, 14-8, at the South Tahoe Babe Ruth field on Monday to earn their ticket to the regional in Tucson, Ariz., which runs July 27 through Aug. 1. This same group also won the 14-year-old state tournament last season in Fallon and played in the regional in Arizona.
This year’s 14- year-old squad, coached by Justin Amos, rebounded after losing in the championship game to defeat South Reno in the consolation game on Monday at the Jack Tighe ballfield in Reno. Fallon defeated Sparks to reach the title game before the hosts forced a second and deciding championship game. Fallon will play its regional in Surprise, Ariz., beginning on July 29.
Danny Bright’s 13- year-old team won its first game of the tournament but couldn’t get into the championship as Sparks defeated South Tahoe on Monday. Sparks will be playing its regional in Vernal, Utah.
On the smaller diamond, Fallon salvaged one of the five state tournaments held in the Lahontan Valley.
The 10-under all-stars, coached by Glenn Lee, defeated Spanish Springs in the title game at the county regional park. Fallon will compete in Visalia, Calif., for the regional, beginning on Sunday.
Stanford Christy’s 8-under team had a tough time after being routed by Spanish Springs to open the competition as the Sparks-area program won all its games to advance. Spanish Springs will not have to travel far as next week’s regional will be at Sun Valley’s Gepford Park.
Spanish Springs’ 9-under team swept Mark Feest’s Fallon squad to earn the state crown and regional berth in Riverton, Utah, while the 11- and 12-under teams had a tough time at Oats Park.
James Richardson’s 11-under all-stars defeated Silver State twice in pool play and in the first round of single-elimination before losing to Spanish Springs in the title game. The 12-under team, coached by Greg Wickizer, split its games in pool play before losing to Silver State in the first round of single elimination. Spanish Springs easily won the title and will compete in Bakersfield, Calif., for the regional, while the 11-under regional will be in Vernal, Utah.
For some age groups, the regional is the final stop while the rest advance to the World Series. The World Series for 10-under will be in Ocala, Fla., while the 12-under will be at the Cal Ripken complex in Aberdeen, Md. The 13-under World Series is in Williston, N.D., the 14s will compete in Moses Lake, Wash., and the 13-15 will be in Loudoun County, Va.