Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Out of the shadows
Earning the approval of a sibling has long been both a luxury and focus of sports, especially when that admiration comes from those who are older.
Last Wednesday, following an emotional 7-6 loss in the state title game, the Southwestern Youth Association East 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars traveled from Woodford to Leesburg, simply to forget their own loss and support a younger version of themselves.
The SYA East 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars – a team featuring three younger brothers of those on the older squad – were playing a state championship of their own that night, as they were eventually cheered on by a rowdy horde of 11- and 12-year-olds with chests and faces painted in support.
“It keeps them loose,” said 9- and 10-year-old coach Bob Woodruff, whose team's 14-6 win over Bridgewater produced its fourth state title since 2004 and a trip to the Tournament of State Champions in Ceredo-Kenova, W.Va. “They obviously got the crowd into it.”
Christian Leckert, Carter Bach and Kyle Barnes are the three players with older brothers on the 11- and 12-year-old team. Leckert has 26 hits in 12 games between the district and state tournaments, while Bach has recorded a pair of pitching wins. Barnes has been a stalwart out of the bullpen, holding opponents scoreless over five-plus innings.
SYA East will square off with Greater Naples (Fla.) Saturday at 1 p.m., an unspecified team from Indiana Sunday at 8 p.m. and Ripley (W.Va.) Monday at 1 p.m. With a 2-1 record or better at the end of pool play, SYA East will advance to one of two possible quarterfinal games Tuesday. Semifinals will follow on Tuesday evening, and the championship is scheduled for Wednesday night.
Woodruff's group has been downright dominant thus far. In six state tournament games – all wins – SYA East outscored its opponents, 82-16, and plated no less than 12 runs in any game.
“The kids went into this year with very high expectations,” said assistant coach Andy Lachance. “It's always hard to meet lofty expectations, and these kids have met and exceeded all the expectations that have been put on them.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.