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Tri-County 18s take second at regional
Pictured is the 2008 Babe Ruth Texas Tri-County All-Stars baseball team. Front, bat boy Brady Moore from El Dorado, Ark. Kneeling, Kyle Supak, Ryan Hackemack, Jennings Boothe, Jonathan Stavinoha, Joe Tallerine, Jake Rangow, Aaron Alvarez and Coach Jack Crandall. Standing, Manager Mark Migl, Kyle Mueller, Garrett Huebner, Sean Masek, Kyle Condel, Barrett Richter, Covey Morrow, Thommy Ostert, Drew Quinney, Cote Schacerl, Chance Kansteiner, Luke Stancik and Tony Neuendorff.
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The Babe Ruth Texas Tri-County 17-18-year-old All-Stars baseball team placed second out of eight teams competing in the Southwest Regional Tourna-ment at El Dorado Ark. July 18-22, advancing to the finals.
Tri-County defeated Union County, Ark. 11-7 in their first game of the tournament Friday, July 18.
Tri-County jumped to a 4-0 lead after two innings of offense.
Union City added their first run to the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Tri-County added a run of their own in the top of the fifth.
Union County’s offense came alive, scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth.
However, Tri-County’s offense remained in control of the game, scoring five runs in the top of the sixth and one run in the top of the seventh.
Top hitters for Tri-County were Columbus’ Thommy Ostert, 3 for 4, with five runs batted in and a grand slam; Bellville’s Joe Tallerine, 2 for 4, with a walk; and Shiner’s Kyle Condel, 2 for 5, with a double.
“Ostert came to plate and sent an 0-1 pitch rocketing deep into the night over the left field fence for a grand slam, putting Tri-County on top for good,” said Tri-County assistant coach Jack Crandall.
Tri-County’s starting pitcher, Weimar’s Drew Quinney allowed only two hits and an unearned run throughout four innings. Weimar’s Chance Kansteiner came in to pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning, facing five batters and retiring none. However, he allowed only one ball to be hit out of the infield. Garrett Huebner came in for relief to finish the game and record the win.
Huebner retired Union County’s second, third and fourth hitters in the bottom of the sixth and struck out three batters in the bottom of the seventh.
Tri-County lost their second game of the tournament to Houma, La. 6-2 Saturday, July 19.
Yoakum’s Covey Morrow on the mound for Tri-County kept the Houma team scoreless for the first three innings, but the Louisiana team scored three runs in the top of the fifth and three more in the sixth to take a decisive lead. Tri-County scored one run in the bottom of the sixth and one more in the seventh.
Top hitters for Tri-County were Tallerine, 2 for 3, with a home run; and Bellville’s Kyle Mueller, 1 for 3, with a home run.
Tri-County defeated Helena, Miss. 13-0 in the loser’s bracket Sunday, July 20 to remain in the tournament.
“Tri-County stayed alive by run-ruling Helena, Miss.,” Crandall said. “Tri-County used three pitchers on a blistering hot day.”
Kansteiner spent the first two innings on the mound for Tri-County keeping the game scoreless.
La Grange’s Kyle Supak pitched the following two innings and Columbus’ Barrett Richter spent the final inning of the contest on the mound.
“The Tri-County strategy seemed to pay off, as Mississippi’s pitcher appeared to tire as the game progressed,” Crandall said. “Tri-County put the game away with a nine-run fifth inning.”
Top hitters for Tri-County were Tallerine, 3 for 4; Bellville’s Ryan Hackemack, 2 for 2, with a double; and Condel, 2 for 4, a triple and two RBIs.
Tri-County defeated Pine Bluff, Ark. 9-6 Monday, July 21 in the loser’s bracket semifinals.
“Needing a win to stay alive, Tri-County sent Shiner’s Kyle Condel to the mound,” Crandall said. “The lefthander responded by taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before surrendering three consecutive singles and by going 3 for 4 at the plate.”
Mueller and Hackemack recorded back-to-back home runs for Tri-County in the third.
Top hitters in the game for Tri-County were Mueller, 3 for 4, with a home run and three RBIs; Hackemack, 2 for 4, with a homerun and an RBI; Condel, 3 for 4, with a double and an RBI and Flatonia’s Sean Masek, 2 for 3, with a double and an RBI.
Tri-County recorded a victory against Mid County team from Nederland. 4-2 in the losers’ bracket finals Monday night, July 21.
“Huebner turned in a gem pitching for Tri-County, going the distance to get the win,” Crandall said.
Huebner recorded nine strikeouts and allowed only one walk to get the win.
“The right-hander was almost untouchable for the last four innings, retiring 13 of the last 14 batters that he faced,” Crandall said.
Top hitters for Tri-County were Cuero’s Jennings Boothe, 2 for 3; Quinney, 1 for 3, with two RBIs; and Mueller, 1 for 3, with two RBIs.
The win earned the Tri-County team the opportunity to compete in the tournament championship Tuesday, July 22.
Tri-County lost to the team from Houma, La. 16-6 to take second place overall in the Southwest Regional.
“Just about everything that could go wrong seemed to go wrong early for Tri-County, committing six errors in the contest while Houma collected 10 hits, including a grand slam home run,” Crandall said.
Houma took control of the game offensively, scoring one run in the top of the first and nine in the top of the third.
Tri-County refused to quit and scored four runs of their own in the bottom of the third.
Quinney walked and Flatonia’s Cote Schacherl singled. Boothe followed with a single to load the bases.
Tallerine grounded to first, but the Houma catcher dropped the throw to the plate, allowing Quinney to score and Tallerine to reach safely on a fielder’s choice.
Condel followed the offensive attack, driving in Schacherl with a single to left field. Mueller worked the count for a bases loaded walk, driving in Boothe. Hackemack drove in Tallerine with a fielder’s choice grounder to second, as Mueller was forced out.
Tri-County added one more run in the bottom of the fourth, but Houma scored six more runs in the top of the fifth to record an uncatchable lead for Tri-County.
Tri-County was able to score one more run in the bottom of the sixth, but it wasn’t enough and the Houma team won the tournament.
The Tri-County All-Stars were coached by Crandall and Tony Neuendorff and were managed by Mark Migl.
Crandall said the?Texas team and coaches enjoyed the overall atmosphere of the regional baseball tournament and the chance to meet people from all across the United States.
“The Tri-County team members were able to enjoy the Arkansas hospitality with their host families and a good time was enjoyed by the players off the field,” Crandall said.
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