Published: July 22, 2008 12:51 pm            

Babe Ruth All-Stars two wins away from state crown

Somerset-Pulaski Babe Ruth All-Stars looking for back-to-back state titles

Georgetown — The Somerset/Pulaski 15-year-old All-Stars are just two wins away from claiming back-to-back State Championships for the first time in nearly 20 years.

The local all-star squad knocked off Louisville Southeast and Johnson County over the weekend to place Somerset-Pulaski Babe Ruth (SPBR) in the winners’ bracket finals against South Lexington.

On Friday night, SPBR squared off against the all-stars from Louisville Southeast in the second round of the East Kentucky State Tournament. SPBR received a brilliant pitching performance from southpaw Isaac Claywell on its way to a 10-0 victory. Claywell scattered three hits while fanning five Louisville Southeast batters through his five innings of work.

SPBR jumped out to early 3-0 lead after the first inning. Taylor Sears was hit by a pitch, stole second and third base, and scored off an RBI single by Cain Troxell. Ryan Ray reached first by way of a walk, and later came home on a wild pitch. Troxell also scored on a passed ball.

SPBR plated one run in the fourth when Ben Purcell laced a one out triple, and scored on a perfectly executed suicide squeeze play by Sears. Somerset/Pulaski ended the game in the bottom of the fifth and final frame due to the 10-run mercy rule by pushing six players across home plate.

SPBR was led by Purcell’s triple, and two run single, while Sears collected two RBI’s to go along with three stolen bases. Troxell, Alex Lange, and Colby Hall also recorded RBI’s in the win.

On Saturday evening, Somerset/Pulaski faced the all-stars from Johnson County, and pulled out a gutsy 5-3 victory. Trailing 2-1, SPBR’s Colby Hall led off the home half of the fourth inning with a single and moved to second when Claywell reached on a walk. Hall then stole third, and scored on a RBI groundout by Alex Lange.

Somerset/Pulaski took the lead for good in the fifth frame by scoring three times to take a 5-2 advantage. Sears and Ray both were hit by a pitch, and both moved up a base when Johnson Co. pitcher Tyler Conn was called for a balk. Sears scored on a bunt single by J.P. Henderlight. Ray came home on an RBI groundout by Cain Troxell, and Henderlight scored off a sacrifice fly by Colby Hall.

Troxell got the start on the mound for SPBR, and turned in a memorable performance. Troxell tossed six innings of three hit baseball, surrendering two runs and striking out six Johnson County batters.

According to SPBR manager Shane Skaggs, the win over Johnson County was much needed as the local all-stars prepare for a shot at both the state and regional championships.

“We need games like this where we obviously didn’t bring our best effort, but still found ways to win the baseball game,” stated Skaggs. “When you look at how we scored our runs, that’s hitting as a team.”

“These guys are gamers, and they’re competitors,” continued Skaggs. “When you’ve got a team full of those types of players, as a coach, you feel like you can win every time you step on the field”

With the win, Somerset/Pulaski Babe Ruth 15-year-old All-Stars improved their record to a perfect 8-0, and faced off against South Lexington in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2007 State Championship game.

        

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