WEST CARROLLTON — The Washington C.H. 12-year-old all-stars won the District Eight championship in convincing fashion Sunday evening, 16-0 over Enon in four innings.
Washington, having completed the District Eight tournament with a 4-0 record, will move on to the State tournament beginning Sunday, July 26 in Painesville, Ohio (northeast of Cleveland).
Zane Joseph was the winning pitcher for Washington and the all-stars smashed two home runs for the second day in a row.
Ethan Steele belted a two-run home run, his second in as many games, in the bottom of the first.
Dylan Bernard drilled a grand slam home run in the bottom of the third inning for the Washington C.H. all-stars.
The all-stars had a total of six hits, three of which went for extra bases.
Brice Cartwright hit a bases-loaded triple in the 10-run third inning.
Joseph pitched four innings of scoreless baseball, allowing two hits, striking out six and issuing no walks.
He was hit in the stomach with a line drive back to the mound in the top of the fourth inning, but recovered the ball and made the throw to first for the first out of the inning.
After a few moments, Joseph went back to the mound and recorded a strikeout and induced a ground out to end the game.
Enon threatened at the start of the game, on what turned out to be a sunny, warm and muggy evening in West Carrollton, the first batter reaching on an error.
Two outs later, a single and a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position for Enon.
The next batter grounded out to end the threat.
Washington C.H. scored two runs in the first inning Sunday.
With one out, Luke Zimmerman walked and Ethan Steele hit a home run to left field.
Joseph retired Enon in order in the second with a strikeout and two ground outs.
Ty Rose got the second started for Washington C.H. by reaching on an error.
With one out, Cartwright walked and Zimmerman reached on an error to load the bases.
Steele walked, scoring Rose.
Bernard hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Cartwright. An error helped Zimmerman score to make it 5-0.
Colin Farrens hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Steele for a 6-0 count after two innings of play.
Enon had an infield hit in the third, their second and final hit of the game.
Washington C.H. then sent 15 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third, scoring 10 runs on four hits, including a grand slam from Bernard and a triple with the bases loaded from Cartwright.
In the top of the fourth, the Enon batter hit a line drive right back at the pitcher, Joseph, hitting him in the stomach.
He made that play to first base and after a moment the game resumed with a strikeout and a ground out to end the game.
“Zane forgot his cleats,” Washington C.H. manager Tracy Rose said. “He had to borrow some cleats that were way too small. What we told him is, when you throw a no-hitter (the second game of the tournament against Eaton, a 16-0 win), they want to throw as much adversity as they can, and he turns right around and pitches another shut-out.
“Everything you need in a baseball team, this team has,” Rose said. “They displayed their talents well this week.
“The pitching has been wonderful,” Rose said. “They’re hitting the ball like we knew they could. The defense has been unbelievable.”
This same group of youngsters won the District Eight championship last year as 11-year-olds. They advanced to State where they went 0-2.
Rose spoke about the depth of the pitching on the team.
“A lot of this group was together as 10-year-olds,” Rose said. “We had to teach them how to pitch. It seemed like we struggled to get through each game and have enough pitching for the tournament.
“Last year, it was a little bit easier,” Rose said. “This year, we haven’t scratched the surface. We never used Brice Cartwright or Colin Farrens. They were ready to pitch, we just never needed them. Zane was just on fire.”
Rose spoke about the support for the team.
“The parents have been wonderful,” Rose said. “If you’ve ever been to a game at the Little League complex, you’ve seen the kind of crowds that turn out. What’s been great about this tournament, is, I see community members who don’t have kids playing, or, there are family members of a player on vacation. Our stands are full and we line the sideline with parents and family members and community members.
“Everywhere we go, we out-draw everybody,” Rose said.
“This will be the third time to state for seven of these kids,” Rose said. “All 12 of them were at state last year. We’re looking to go up there and win. This group is certainly capable of winning some games at state. That’s our goal.
“We have a lot of pitching,” Rose said. “We have great defense and we have wonderful hitting. These kids pick each other up. We may not field every ball, but if we miss one, the next kid’s got the next play. One guy may strikeout, but the next guy will get a hit behind him.
“They played team ball the entire tournament,” Rose said. “Our hopes are high. We have high expectations for this group at state.”
Offensively for Washington C.H.: Brice Cartwright, 1-2, 1 bb, 1 3b, 1 run, 4 rbi; Ty Rose, 0-1, 2 bb, 3 runs, 1 rbi; Bo Little, 1-2, 2 runs, 1 bb; Zane Joseph, 0-2, 1 run, 1 bb; Colin Farrens, 2-2, 1 rbi, 1 run, 1 bb; Luke Zimmerman, 0-2, 3 runs, 2 bb; Ethan Steele, 1-1, 1 home run, 4 rbi, 3 runs, 2 bb; Tyris Virts, 0-2; Dylan Bernard, 1-3, 1 home run (grand slam), 6 rbi, 1 run; Hunter Rudd, 0-0, 1 bb, 1 run.
Enon 000 0xx — 0
WCH 24(10) xxx — 16
