Two Sarasota All-Star teams remained unbeaten and captured championships Sunday at the Babe Ruth District 10 Tournament.
The Sarasota 14-and-under team won its fourth consecutive tournament game, and third straight by the 10-run mercy rule, blasting a team of All-Stars from North Tampa, 12-2, in six innings on Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday morning, Sarasota’s 13-year-old squad needed just five innings to roll over another team from North Tampa, 14-0, to win its age division at the three-day tournament held at Sarasota’s Babe Ruth Park.
By winning district titles, both Sarasota teams qualified for the Babe Ruth State Tournaments to be held July 16 to 19 in Ocala.
“We were firing on all cylinders, hitting, pitching and defensively throughout the tournament,” Sarasota 13s manager Rob LaGasse said. “We played small ball and hit it into the gaps. It’s hard to defend against that. We definitely got it done in all aspects of the game.”
Reese Clancy and Evan Gibbs took to the mound for the Sarasota 13s to combine for the shutout.
The Sarasota 13s got two hits apiece from Sam Miller, Jakob Jackson and Zac Calhoon. Mars Moxley added a two-run double.
The Sarasota 13s are going to Ocala with one goal in mind: win the state tournament so they can qualify for the Babe Ruth Region Tournament to be held in Greenville, N.C.
“We have the kind of team that can make it,” LaGasse said.
The Sarasota 14s are eager to make their trip to Ocala, as well, after ripping through the competition at the district level.
“We started hitting the ball hard,” Sarasota 14s manager Steve Hardee said. “The kids made some great adjustments in their hitting.
“As far as pitching, we were able to throw strikes and move the baseball.”
Andre James and Tyler Nohmer took care of business on the mound for the Sarasota 14s as the two combined for six strikeouts and limited North Tampa to just one hit.
At the plate, Mason DeMichele and Fletcher Perrigo both singled and doubled and drove in two runs each. Jack Duffy also drove in two runs on two hits. Steven Tran collected two hits and Austin Landry drove in two runs for the Sarasota 14s.