The U14 Leavenworth Blue Jays concluded a winning USSSA season last weekend with a second-place showing at the USSSA ‘A’ World Series.
After a mediocre sixth-place outing at the State Championships, the Blue Jays weren’t even sure they were going to play in the invitation-only tournament.
“We had a choice, play in the World Series or play in the Jayhawk Classic at the WyCo Sports Complex,” coach Joe Allison said, since the Jayhawk Classic was postponed due to weather at the beginning of the WyCo League season. “Fortunately, we had sponsors come forward and helped us get entered into the World Series, and that sealed the deal.”
The Blue Jays started off the World Series with a huge win over the Saint James Thunder, blanking the Thunder 12-0. Pitcher Judson Cole held the Thunder to just one hit, while the entire Jays lineup contributed to the cause.
In game two of the tournament, the Jays suffered a heartbreaking 7-6 loss in extra innings to the Marshall (Mo.) Owls. This game also saw a key player, Kris Messer, injure his knee and have to sit out the rest of the tournament.
Despite the loss, the Blue Jays came back the next day to beat the KC Sharks and All-stars & Aces. These victories seeded the Jays fifth out of 15 teams heading into bracket play.
“The pitching restrictions really forced us to be creative in who we pitched and how we pitched them,” coach Adam Zink said, praising the work put in on the mound by Cole, Bradley Yonts, Kyle Pangracs, Andrew Weber and Dustin Zink.
“These kids really stepped up in pressure situations and delivered pitches where we needed them, when we needed them,” coach Rob Miller added.
In the batter’s box, the biggest standout was Bradley Yonts who finished the World Series with two home runs. As a team, the Jays batted over .350 for the World Series.
“All the kids put the ball in play and forced the other teams to make plays, and more often than not, the other teams made mistakes or we put the ball where they weren’t,” Allison said.
The final day of the tournament had the Jays playing a very early game against the Saint Joe Gunners. Great platoon pitching again kept their opponents at bay, giving the Jays the win and their next opponent, the unbeaten Central Iowa Yankees.
“We knew this would be our toughest game of the tournament, so we started Judson Cole,” Allison said. “(He’s got) great speed, great location, and (is) an on-field leader.”
Due to the pitching restrictions, Cole could only pitch five innings. He kept the Yankees to no runs through five while the Jays notched four. Andrew Weber was brought in to finish the game and did a great job, beating the Yankees 4-2.
“They didn’t expect us at all. I think they felt we would be a pushover after they breezed through to bracket play,” Miller said.
The Jays found themselves in the title game against the Missouri State Champion Independence Nationals.
“Their boys had great control and composure out there, we had a bad case of the ‘pop-ups’ Zink said.
Despite a valiant late rally, the Jays just couldn’t put it all together and lost to the Nationals 11-7.
“It was really nice to play a team that, like the Blue Jays, had been playing tournaments together for years,” Allison said. “Just like most of the Jays, their team will be moving on to high school ball together next year. They were really a good, solid, cohesive team, and it was an honor to play them for the Championship.”
The Blue Jays ended their USSSA season first in USSSA points in the state of Kansas, and third in the standings for the entire country.
Leavenworth, Kan. —
