FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Greater Lynn Babe Ruth’s remarkable summer run to the World Series ended at the hands of Rapid City, S.D., in six innings by a score of 10-0 Thursday at VA Credit Union Field.
“We did not hit, I think we only had two hits — again, we had a guy thrown out on the base paths, and you cannot do those things in this kind of tournament, you just cannot,” said Lynn Manager Leon Elwell.
“Honestly told the boys after, I think we just ran out of gas. I looked up after the game, and there are guys that have cuts all over their bodies; we got guys wrapped in tape — I think it just caught up to us at the end of the day,” said Elwell.
Although Lynn was beaten up toward the end, Elwell did not take anything away from Rapid City, saying, “I am not taking anything away from the other team — they are a good team, and they deserved to win.”
For a good portion of the game, it lived up to the billing of a knock-down drag-out pitcher’s duel. Lynn’s ace Josh Doney got the nod, and through the first three innings, he was perfect, striking out three without allowing a base runner during the stretch.
While Doney was working his magic, Lynn’s defense was incredible, especially in the top of the third. Gilly Galva and Alex Lara both made spectacular diving catches to get the first two outs of the inning.
Although Lynn’s pitching and defense were dialed in to start the game, the issue was Rapid City’s starting pitcher Jackson Dial was too.
Lynn got its first baserunner of the game in the bottom of the second on a double by Jared Paone over the left fielder’s head. Shea Newhall eventually moved Paone over to third on a ground out, but he was left stranded after Dial got Christian Figueroa to ground out.
It was not until the top of the fourth inning that Rapid City got its first baserunner, after Luke Hanzlik was hit by a pitch. Hanzlik then stole second with Ian Beer at the plate. Beer hit a rope of a single to center field, which spelled trouble, but Seth Sullivan came up gunning, throwing Hanzlik out at home to keep the game at zeros.
Unfortunately for Lynn, the game did not stay even for long. Beer, who advanced to second on Sullivan’s throw to the plate, was knocked in by the next batter, Mason Brooks. Brooks hit a shallow ball to left field that just got under the glove of a diving Lara who trapped the ball, giving Rapid City a 1-0 lead.
After Dial shut down Lynn one-two-three in the bottom of the fourth, the top of the fifth spelled disaster for Lynn.
Rapid City led off the inning with two singles, and a sacrifice bunt by Blake Olmsted moved the runners to second and third with one out. Naturally, with first base open, Lynn intentionally walked the next batter to get a force out at all bases and hope for an inning-ending double play.
With the bases juiced, Doney got Teagen Smith to strike out looking to get the innings’ second out. Doney then forced William Waddell to pop out to second base in what looked like an inning-ending play. However, the ball seemed to be lost in the sun and fell in the infield, which made the game 2-0.
After what was an unfortunate play, the wheels just seemed to fall off the bus for Lynn. Hanzlik then hit a weak grounder to the pitcher that was almost like a bunt while throwing his bat in the field of play in the process to score another run.
A passed ball scored another run making the game 4-0. Beer cleared the bases with a 2-RBI triple and eventually scored on a passed ball to take a 7-0 lead before Doney got out of the inning.
Shell-shocked, Lynn couldn’t do anything with its bats in the bottom half of the inning before Rapid City laid it on in the top of the sixth.
Dial helped himself out with a double down the third baseline to begin the sixth, spelling the end of Doney’s outing. Jake Peterson, who had been outstanding since regionals, came in for relief of Doney.
Rapid City got runners on first and second after Ethan Wilson was hit by a pitch. Brody Thompson knocked in another run with an RBI double to left center field. Then the dagger came from a two-RBI single by Colten Morlang, and the mercy rule loomed at a 10-0 score.
Down 10, Lynn could not get any offense going in the bottom half of the sixth, which ended the game via the mercy rule at 10-0.
The boys from Lynn clearly have nothing to hang their heads at winning three of their five World Series games. Lynn went on an unbelievable tour of winning this summer, becoming state and regional champions before coming just three wins short of a World Series title.
“I am proud of them; they have nothing but bright futures ahead of them — they are all gentlemen, and they are all great ball players. They are all good young men and great teammates, so they have nothing to hang their heads about — they finished as the sixth best team in the country — how many teams can say that,” said Elwell.
