This past weekend the Logan County Babe Ruth All-Stars wrapped up a successful season with the District 3 tournament against the Franklin-Simpson and Warren County All-Stars. All three age groups for Logan County, 13 year old, 14 year old and 15 year old played in the first round game this past Saturday.

With a win or go home mentality all of the kids knew that this was it for the summer before the leaves started changing colors.

In the first match-up this past Saturday it was the 13 year old age group with Logan County going up against Franklin. Hunter Crafton took the mound for Logan County and struggled with his control to start off the game, walking six batters in the game with a few wild pitches thrown in there. But Crafton settled down late, pitching a complete game, scattering five hits and striking out four. Crafton also scored Logan County’s lone run in the losing cause. Jacob Decker collected two of the three hits with Jared England picking up the other hit as Logan County fell 10-1 to Franklin and exited the tournament a day early.

The Logan County 14 year old All-Stars then took to the field after and faced the Franklin 14 year old All-Stars. Jordan Hendrix was handed the ball and immediately shut down Franklin with his curve ball baffling the opposing batters. He struck out five, four due to that wicked curve, and allowed seven hits in a complete game masterpiece. His offense struck early, scoring all their runs in the first four innings. Led by Wes Stratton’s three RBI performance the entire Logan County team took turns taking batting practice off the Franklin’s pitching staff. Scoring 11 runs on 10 hits the game was easily in the bag. With a 11-5 victory they advanced to the District 3 title game where Warren County’s All-Stars waited.

The nightcap game was the 15 year old All-Stars from Warren County squaring off against Logan County. Like their 14 year old counterparts, Logan County blitzed Warren County’s pitching for 14 runs in the first three innings. The game was close to being in hand and with Blake Gettings towing the rubber it looked like an easy victory for Logan County. But Warren County started picking away at the lead, exploiting a lax defense. Gettings allowed nine runs, with only five being earned to him. He settled down and struck out eight in a complete game showing. The offense that took two innings to cool off, exploded again in the bottom of the sixth to end the game with four more runs to make the score 19-9.

Crewsdon Kemp went four for five at the plate and showed off his wheels in getting an inside the park home-run and was only a double away from the cycle. Corey Wright collected three RBI’s. DJ Lee and Gettings also picked up two RBI’s in Logan County’s onslaught on the scoreboard. With the victory they would faceX off against Franklin in the District 3 title game for a chance to go to the state tournament.

On Sunday, Logan County’s 14 year old All-Stars faced off against Warren County. The game didn’t start off in Logan’s favor with Warren County getting the first six outs via strike outs. Then with Trent Deberry on the mound Warren County started smashing hit after hit in the gaps. The game looked out of hand, but Cole Aguirre, who had a monstrous hit in the first inning but it curved just foul, doubled to try and spark a rally. With two men on and two outs Logan County looked to put a dent into the scoreboard. But Warren County calmly slammed the door on any kind of rally and took the District 3 title home with them. The 14-year old All-Stars will still play this Wednesday at Franklin-Simpson high school field in the state tournament.

Logan County’s 15 year old All-Stars faced a Franklin team that they had played extremely close in the first game. The rematch looked like it would be another close game, but Franklin jumped on Wright’s pitching early, tagging him for five runs in the first inning. He would go five and a third inning, fanning six, and allowing seven runs before Kemp came in and got the final two outs via strike outs. Austin Dukes and DJ Lee collected an RBI each in the losing cause. Franklin would go on and win 8-2 and claim the District 3 title.

We would like to congratulate all of the participates in the Babe Ruth league and wish good luck to the 14 year old All-Stars as they continue to play Wednesday and beyond.