Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
The Madison County Babe Ruth 12U Allstars baseball team went 3-2 during the State Tournament, held from Thursday, June 27, through Sunday, June 30, in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. Against some of the top teams in the Sunshine State, the Madison Allstars placed third in the tournament.
The Madison team was defeated in their opening game of the tournament, 9-3, by the Jacksonville Beach team. The game was tied at three runs apiece until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Jacksonville Beach posted a six-run rally to take the lead.
Brayson Thompson had a hot bat for the Madison team, chalking up two homers and three runs batted in (RBIs) in three at-bats. Bryson Robinson and Luke Keeling also had hits for the Madison Allstars.
Lucas Miller, Christian Robinson and Thompson all spent time on the pitcher’s mound for Madison, giving up six hits, eight earned runs and six walks, while striking out six batters.
The Madison Allstars bounced back in a big way on Friday, June 28, when they faced the Chiefland 12U Allstars. Thompson belted two more homers to help lead the Madison Allstars to an 8-2 victory to keep their tournament hopes alive. The Madison Allstars had a 3-2 lead after the first inning, then held the Chiefland team scoreless for the remainder of the contest, while the Madison Allstars scored five more runs.
In addition to Thompson’s two four-baggers, Keeling, Miller and Jamari Mitchell also had hits for the Madison Allstars.
On the mound, Tucker Odiorne and Wyatt Ratliff tag-teamed to give up four hits, one earned run and two walks. The Madison pitching duo struck out five batters.
The Madison Allstars fought from behind on Saturday, June 29, when they weathered the Fleming Island Storm with a 3-2 victory. The Madison Allstars fell behind, 2-0, in the bottom of the second inning. The Madison Allstars cut into the Storm’s lead with one run in the top of the third, then scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead.
Jathan Straughter went one-for-two at the plate with a solo home run. Thompson, Mitchell and Ratliff also had hits for the Madison Allstars.
On Sunday, June 30, the Madison Allstars split a double-header, dropping the first game, 3-6, to the Julington Creek Allstars. In the second game of the day, the Madison Allstars roared back to defeat the FC Tides 12U team, 9-4.
In the game with the FC Tides team, the Madison Allstars went out to an early 3-0 lead. The score was tied at four runs each, heading into the bottom half of the fifth inning. That’s when the Madison team mounted a five-run rally to take the win and cement their third-place tournament standing.
Mitchell went one-for-three in the batter’s box, with a solo home run. Brady Boan had one hit in his three at-bats, with one RBI. Keeling and Robinson also chalked up hits for the Madison Allstars.
With their third-place finish, the Madison Allstars qualified to play in the Cal Ripken Regional Tournament, being held in Jacksonville, starting Tuesday, July 16.