MOSES LAKE — Little league teams from across the nation descended on Moses Lake for the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series.

 

Opening Ceremonies at Larson Field introduced the teams and then at noon the first pitch of the tournament crossed the plate.

 

Moses Lake had a bye the first day of the tournament, but fans were still treated to four games between teams spanning the nation.

 

 

In the opening game of the World Series the Ohio Valley Regional Champion Jasper, Ind. dominated the Midwest Plains Regional Champion Baxter Springs, Kan. 8-0.

 

Jasper used a balanced attack and scored runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

 

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third when Jasper was able to push three runners across home. With two outs, Reece Kleinhelter drove a pitch from Jarret Dotson deep landing him on third base. The next batter, Tanner Egbert, hit an RBI single to break the tie. After Andrew Schmitt was walked, Jared Sermersheim hit a two-run double.

 

Jasper tacked on two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings and one run in the sixth. Egbert pitched a complete game shutout, only allowed one hit and struck out 13. Kaid Karnes recorded the lone hit for Baxter Springs.

 

 

The second game of the tournament was another blowout. Clifton Park was able to use a late surge to beat Bryant 10-1.

 

Ian Anderson pitched six shutout innings, gave up one hit and struck out eight. Similar to the first game, both teams were scoreless heading into the third inning. Clifton Park’s Ben Anderson led the top of the third off with a triple and scored later in the inning on a fielder’s choice.

 

Clifton Park picked up where it left off in the fourth when it took advantage of sloppy play by Bryant scoring four runs on only two hits. Nikolas Malachowski scored on an error, Matthew Straney hit a RBI single and Kevin Huerter added a two-run single.

 

Clifton Park was able to extend their lead to 10-0 after a five-run seventh inning. Bryant scored their lone run on a Dylan Hurt RBI double.

 

 

Longwood used a dominant pitching performance by Brandon Tague to secure the win over Manchester 4-1. In six innings of work, Tague allowed one hit and struck out eight.

 

Jarred Tummins carried the offense, driving in three of their four runs. Longwood jumped out early scoring one run in the bottom of the first on a two-out RBI triple by Jared Tummins. Tummins added another RBI after he singled in the bottom of the third. Longwood continued their attack in the bottom of the fourth when Chad Miller doubled and was able to score on an error. Altoon Coleman scored on a Tummins fielder’s choice extending Longwood’s lead to 4-0.

 

Bryant was able to get on the board in the top of the sixth after a Nick Salcito RBI double. Manchester squandered several opportunities to score leaving 11 runners on base.

 

 

The Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest Regional Champions squared off in the final game Saturday. Westchester scored 3 runs in the top of the 1st and never gave up the lead going on to win 8-1. Despite both teams totaling 7 hits, Tualatin Hills left 11 runners on base and committed 3 errors. After Westerchester starter Nolan Martinez struggled to find the strike zone, he was replaced by Dominic Johnson who pitched five and two-thirds shutout innings. 

 

Back-to-back RBI singles Westchester’s Aaron Greenfield and Nolan Martinez and a RBI fielder’s choice by Saul Martinez provided a big opening inning for the Pacific Southwest Champions. Tualitin Hills responded with a RBI single by Kyle Thompson, but the opportunity to cut into Westchester’s lead was extinguished when Matt Clark grounded out with the bases loaded. Dailin Lee extended Westchester’s lead to 4-1 after a RBI single in the top of the fourth.

 

Sloppy play caught up to Tualatin Hills when Westchester added two more runs in the fifth when Kelvin Murillo scored on an error and Saul Martinez scored on a passed ball. Westchester was able to score one run each in the sixth and seventh inning, which brought the final score to 8-1.

 

Pick up Tuesday’s Columbia Basin Herald for more Babe Ruth coverage.